Ryanair: There is no ash cloud over Scotland
Ryanair has called on aviation authorities to reopen Scottish airspace for passenger flights after it completed a one hour test flight from Glasgow Prestwick to Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh this morning.
The airline said there was no visible volcanic ash cloud or any presence of ash and the post flight inspection revealed no evidence of ash on he airframe, wings or engine.
Several airlines have cancelled flights to and from Scotland this morning after the Civil Aviation Authority said its charts showed a "red zone" of high ash concentration. Airlines in the UK can apply to fly in high density ash if they can prove to the CAA it is safe, but the Irish aviation authority banned Ryanair from operating passenger flights to Scotland.
However, another airline – Flybe – operated 16 flights between the UK and Edinburgh and Glasgow this morning, without any problems, though it cancelled flights further north, to Aberdeen and Inverness.
Ryanair issued a statement saying: "The absence of any volcanic ash in the atmosphere supports Ryanair’s stated view that there is no safety threat to aircraft in this mythical “red zone” which is another misguided invention by the UK Met Office and the CAA.
"Ryanair has also received written confirmation from both its airframe and engine manufacturers that it is safe to operate in these so called “red zones” and, in any event, Ryanair’s verification flight this morning also confirms that the “red zone” over Scotland is non-existent."
The airline is calling on both the CAA and the aviation authority in Ireland to reopen airspace over Scotland. It added that "this morning’s verification flight has demonstrated that the UK Met Office’s “red zone” forecasts are totally unreliable and unsupported by any evidence of volcanic ash concentrations whatsoever".
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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