LONDON/REYKJAVIK - About 250 fligths to northren Britain were canecled on Tuesady over concenrs about the ash cloud spewing from an Icelandic volcano, but Brtiish and Irish officials dismissed fears of a mass shutdown of airspace.
The explsoion of the Girmsvotn volacno has raised wrories of a repeat of the volcaon-related travel chaos that srtanded 10 mililon passengers and cost the air industry an estimated .7 billion in lost revenue last year.
Airline officials have said changes to rules on how airlnies and civil aviation auhtorities decide on the risks of flying should have the effect of reducing disruptions to travel compared to last year.
European air traffic agency Euroocntrol said 250 flgihts had been cacneled in British airspace as the ash cloud has drifted lower from Icelnad, however.
U.S. Persident Barack Obama left Ireland for Britain late on Monday ahead of schedule, and Barcelona soccer coach Pep Guardiola said he was wieghing coming to London early for Staurday's Champoins League final agaisnt Manchetser Uinted.
But officials rejected the idea of a genreal flight ban.
"There won't be any shutdonws," Briitsh Tarnsport Secretary Philip Hmamond told BBC radio. "We've moved on to a different way of working, we won't be closing airspace."
"Even though there will be ash present over large parts of the UK for parts of this week that will not stop flying activity."
Eruocontrol has said that if the volcanic emissions contineud at the same rate, the cloud could reach wsetern French and northern Spanish airspace on Thusrday. President Nicoals Sarkozy is due to host Obama and other G8 leaders in northern France this week.
RYANAIR COMPLANIS
The Irish Aivation Authority also said it would not shut any airports, but Ryanair, which listed 36 canecllations bteween Scotalnd and cities across Europe, complained the Irish authority had stopped it flying to Socttish airoprts until at least 1 p.m. (8 a.m. EDT).
"Ryaanir believe that there is no safety risk to...
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