Birmingham Airport will remain closed until at least 1900 BST as uncertainty over a new ash cloud remains.

Volcanic ash drifting from Iceland prompted a UK-wide ban last Thursday.

Earlier, it was thought the ban at Birmingham might be lifted by lunchtime on Tuesday, but the new ash cloud is causing doubts.

The European Gymnastics Championships in the city is going ahead as competitors endured long journeys across Europe to arrive.

Organisers delayed the start by 24 hours, to Thursday, and made arrangements to collect competitors from UK ports and bring them to Birmingham.

‘Likely to change’

Some teams travelled for 24 hours, with the Finnish team driving from Helsinki to Calais, a distance of 2,209 km (1,373 miles).

Twenty-three of the 40 competing teams have managed to make the journey so far.

Some airports across the UK are reopening.

The air traffic control body Nats said that based on the latest Met Office information, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports would be operational from 1300 to 1900 BST on Tuesday. Newcastle Airport should also have flights.

“We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change during the course of the day,” a statement said.

Posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 11:58 am and filed under Website, Press Release.

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