Travel Updates

22:53 The Irish Aviation Authority has announced that it is lifting restrictions, with immediate effect, on flights to and from airports at Cork and Shannon and some of the regional airports.

Restrictions will remain in force at Dublin Airport until at least 11am.

Restrictions also remain in force in large parts of the UK and Northern Europe.

22:37 A spokesman for the Department of Transport has said that aircraft are grounded until 11am - but he isnt expecting any movement in Irish airspace tomorrow.

21:59 P&O says its Irish Sea services are operating normally with spaces currently available.

The Larne to Troon and Cairnryan services still have spaces available for vehicles and foot passengers.

21:37 French aviation authorities have ordered airports in Paris and the north of the country to remain closed until at least 1pm tomorrow.

21:21 Planes have now been grounded in Ireland, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, northern France, parts of Germany and also parts of northern Poland.

21:17 The ash cloud is 'progressing very slowly eastwards' and remains 'very dense', according to Eurocontrol spokesman Brian Flynn.

21:11 Irish Ferries says bookings have increased for tomorrow's sailings but there are still spaces on sailings from Dublin Port.

Stena Line says it still has spaces for car passengers tomorrow and there is limited accommodation for 'walk on' passengers from Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire.

20:56 A limited number of flights could fly between Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland tomorrow, UK air traffic control company Nats has confirmed.

'Flights from Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick may be allowed in the period from 1am to 1pm tomorrow, subject to individual co-ordination.

North Atlantic traffic to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed in the period.'

20:52 Air travellers hit by the grounding of all flights by the volcanic ash threat can still claim most of their EU rights even though the disruption is beyond airlines' control, the European Commission confirmed tonight.

Travel operators remain liable to reimburse ticket fares or to re-route their stranded passengers - but will not have to pay financial compensation for delays or cancellations, because of the special circumstances.

20:46 Half of all transatlantic flights are expected to be cancelled tomorrow, according to the intergovernmental Eurocontrol agency.

20:42 A spokesman at Heathrow in London, Europe's busiest airport, has confirmed that 840 out of 1,250 flights were affected today.

20:27 No non-emergency flights will be allowed in or out of the UK before 1pm tomorrow at the earliest.

20:26 Aer Lingus and Ryanair have repeated that they have cancelled ALL European flights from Ireland and the UK until one 1pm tomorrow.

Aer Lingus said flights from Ireland to the US are expected to operate with delays.

20:17 The National Emergency Response Coordinating Committee says there are currently no plans in place for Irish holidaymakers stranded abroad.

However, a spokesperson said that if the situation continued 'it would be an issue of concern for the committee'.

20:09 Gerard Fleming of Met Éireann says high pressure in the northwest is directing the ash towards Ireland - he does not see the weather pattern changing within the next few days

20:03 Nearly 500 flights at the three main Irish airports were cancelled today - disrupting the travel plans of approximately 50,000 people.

19:53 The National Emergency Response Coordinating Committee has said it is unlikely that aircraft will be able to move in Irish airspace for the next two to three days.

Department of Transport assistant secretary Maurice Mullen said although aircraft had been grounded until 11am tomorrow, he was not expecting any movement in Irish airspace.

19:26 Due to flight cancellations, tomorrow's UCD Earth Sciences Institute seminar has been postponed.

The guest speaker, former President Mary Robinson, will be unable to attend.

19:01 Air France has cancelled all flights in and out of Paris on Friday morning.

18:46 The Irish Aviation Authority has announced it will not make an assessment on reopening Irish air space until 11am tomorrow.

18:30 Ryanair has cancelled over 600 flights (approx 40% of Ryanair's scheduled flights) across Europe.

It will not operate any flights to/from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden or the UK before 13pm tomorrow.

18:14 The Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning will hold a press briefing around 7pm.

17:50 Stenaline says it is fully booked up tonight in terms of walk on passengers but there still are car spaces available out of Dublin

17:46 Belfast International Airport spokesperson says all flights are grounded until at least 7am tomorrow, when the situation will be reviewed.

Passengers are strongly urged not to make their way to the airport before contacting their relevant airline for advice and assistance. www.belfastairport.com has a list of relevant contact details.

17:25: Coastguard helicopters based in the east and south east will not be allowed to fly tonight because of the volcanic ash in the air.

The Shannon and Sligo based coastguard helicopters will continue to operate throughout the night but they will not be able to fly into this area.

A naval patrol vessel, the LÉ Ciara, will be stationed off the south east coast as all local RNLI lifeboats will be on standby to strengthen search and rescue capabilities in the area.

17:23 Ryanair will not operate any flights out of Ireland before 1pm tomorrow.

17:18 All remaining Aer Lingus flights to and from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast, London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports have been cancelled today.

Flights from Ireland to the US are expected to operate with delays, with the exception of flight EI 111 from Shannon to New York which has been cancelled.

The following transatlantic flights are scheduled to operate:
Dublin - New York EI 105
Dublin/Shannon - Boston EI 133
Dublin - Chicago EI 125
Dublin - Boston EI 137
Dublin - New York EI 109

Customers holding confirmed reservations on the above transatlantic flights are asked to arrive at the airport on time for check-in.