UK flight ban to end on Tuesday?

LATEST NEWS: Surrey Air Ambulance grounded by volcanic ash

UPDATE: The air traffic control body, Nats, has confirmed that airspace in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Scotland will reopen at 7am.

A spokesman for the body said airspace south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool would reopen, along with mainland Scottish airports.

It is also hoped airspace above the rest of England and Wales could be lifted later on Tuesday.

The statement read: "The volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK.

"Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions, we are now looking at a continuously improving situation.

"This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 7am local.

"However, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow.

"It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity.

"Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans."

LATEST NEWS: Full week off for Hollyfield pupils

UPDATE: Campaigners have erupted over the prospect of Heathrow-bound planes flying through the night once no-fly restrictions are lifted.

Thousands of south Londoners face sleepless nights amid concerns that airline operators will flaunt night time flying rules until a normal timetable can be resumed.

Around 150,000 Britons are stranded abroad with a no-fly zone imposed across the UK for a fifth day due to Icelandic volcano ash in the atmosphere.

Flights are suspended until 1pm on Tuesday, although the ban could be further suspended.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - the body controlling UK airspace - the Secretary of State for Transport is yet to decide if night-flying rules will be suspended or imposed.

John Stewart, chairman of Heathrow campaign group Hacan, said: “South London will go from being a no-fly zone to a no-sleep zone.

"This is something that should have been ruled out straight away even though there are a lot of people desperate to get home.

"It’s too big a price to pay for all of those living under the Heathrow flight path. Depending on how long night flying goes on for there could be a real uproar."

Throughout the summer, an average of 16 flights per night are permitted to touch down at Heathrow between 11.30pm and 6am per night, and a sharp increase in night flights is still feasible in the short term even if current rules are imposed.

This comes months before a scheduled consultation on a new night flights regime is due to take place.

At present, 2,550 flights in and out of Heathrow are allowed between 11.30pm and 6am during the six-month winter season, and 3,250 in the summer months.

Ministers attempted to relax the restrictions in 2006 when they were last reviewed and campaigners believe they will launch another attempt, paving the way for more night flights from 2012.

LATEST NEWS: 150 Sutton teachers and 250 students stranded

UPDATE: Plans are in place to open airspace in Scotland at 6am, the Midlands at noon and southern UK at 6pm on Tuesday, it has been reported.

Sky News has reported that UK airports will then be allowed to conduct operations 24 hours a day until the flight situation returns to normal.

It follows a dramatic reduction in the ash being thrown up by the Icelandic volcano, the news service said.

The Met Office has confirmed that "eruption has virtually ceased, with only small amounts of ash up to 6,000 feet".

They have also confirmed that there is no sign of ash above 35,000 feet.

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UPDATE: The Cabinet Office has confirmed that another meeting of the Cobra committee - the UK emergency group - will take place this afternoon.

UPDATE: Prime Minister Gordon brown has confirmed the Royal Navy will help ferry stranded Britons home using HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean.

HMS Albion will be deployed to pick up the 3Rifles brigade from Spain following their return from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the PM is also talking to his Spanish counterpart about laying on coaches from Madrid.

The UK's emergency committee, Cobra, has met this morning to discuss the on-going volcanic ash crisis.

The Icelandic eruption has left planes grounded across Europe amid fears the ash cloud could endanger flights.

Now, with an estimated 150,000 Britons stranded abroad, speculation surrounds a possible plan to use the Royal Navy fleet to help ferry passengers home.

Downing Street has confirmed Gordon Brown has spoken to the Spanish premier about the possibility of Britons being flown to Spain before a journey by sea back to the UK.

The meeting came after it was announced UK flight restrictions will continue until at least 1am on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, airlines have called for a review of flight restrictions after safely sending their own test flights into the skies.

UK planes were initially grounded at midday on Thursday.

After a test flight, a British Airways statement said: "The conditions were perfect and the aircraft encountered no difficulties.

"It will now undergo a full technical analysis at British Airways' engineering base at Cardiff."

Forecasters have warned the dust cloud generated by the Icelandic eruption may remain over the UK for several days.

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