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Volcano: New ash cloud rules to ease flight restrictions

18th May 2010 New rules allowing planes to fly in areas with double the density of ash than before are to be introduced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) .Airlines will need the agreement of aircraft and engine manufacturers to fly in the zone for a limited time.

Aircraft can now safely fly through "medium density" ash following the introduction of a new zone that defines the concentration of the ash cloud.

The authority's move was welcomed by airlines, regulators and manufacturers after thousands of passengers were stranded by UK airport closures. Airline chiefs have heavily criticised the earlier no-fly zone system. All flight restrictions have now been lifted, after the volcanic ash cloud over UK airspace moved away, but knock-on disruption continues.

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