No UK flights for fifth day

ONLY inter-island flights will operate out of Guernsey today as ash from an Icelandic volcano keeps most European airports closed for the fifth consecutive day.

Flybe flights today have been cancelled and the airline will make a decision about tomorrow at 2pm. Aurigny has cancelled Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester services.

Airport director Colin Le Ray said flights between the Channel Islands would be allowed to operate until at least noon, but he expected that to be extended after a meeting this morning. UK airspace is closed until at least 7pm but Mr Le Ray said it was likely that would be extended after a review this morning.

On a usual weekend, about 4,000 passengers fly in and out of Guernsey but Mr Le Ray said only about 300 had got away this weekend.

Some weather experts predict that wind patterns mean the cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano is unlikely to clear before the end of the week.

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