Volcano ash from Iceland continues to disrupt air travel across Europe. Photo credit: AFP

The eruption of volcano Eyjafjallajokull in southern Iceland is continuing to produce ash and disrupt air travel across Europe, and experts say there could be more to come.

A second, larger and more dangerous, neighbouring volcano called Katla is located just 75 miles (120 km) east of Reykjavik and has in the past erupted in tandem with Eyjafjallajokull, just eight miles away.

Local geophysicists are monitoring its activity, but it so far shows no signs of reawakening. If it does, however, eruption could cause widespread flooding and further ash disruption to the skies – affecting air traffic between Europe and North America.

All three eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull on record – in 920, 1612 and 1821 – have been associated with a subsequent eruption of Katla – which last erupted itself in 1918. Katla has historically erupted every 40-80 years, so another blast is in fact overdue.

Meanwhile, the cloud of volcanic ash continues to cover much of the UK and is causing chaos for the travel industry. Following a review of the latest Met Office information, the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) advises that restrictions preventing flights in English controlled airspace will remain in place until 0100 GMT tomorrow, Saturday 17 April, at the earliest.

Flights in Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow and Prestwick will continue to be allowed until 1900 GMT today subject to individual co-ordination.  North Atlantic traffic to and from Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in this period.

From 1900 GMT, forecasts indicate that Scottish airspace may be able to accept domestic flights within Scotland and Northern/Southern Ireland, and North Atlantic flights to/from airports in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

NATS will review further Met Office information and at 1430 will advise further arrangements.  

Many passengers have been looking to alternative methods of transport to get where they need to go – an estimated 600,000 passengers have been affected in the UK.

Rail and ferry services are reporting rises in their passenger numbers, with ferry operators Stena and Fastnet saying there were significant increases in customers on services departing from Wales.

Eurostar services are also full, seeing more than 10,000 bookings made on Thursday after the restrictions went into force, and an announcement on the website requesting that only passengers with reservations turn up at their stations.

Alongside the UK, the Irish Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands all closed their airspace on Thursday; France, Germany, Poland and Austria have also closed some of their airports.