PASSENGERS AT Britain’s airports were facing further disruption today after the return to UK airspace of the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano.

However, passengers were given some respite when restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports were lifted at about 11am. The two London airports had remained shut until 7am today.

The Icelandic ash cloud had again caused havoc to flights in and out of the UK.

Even after the 7am reopening, Heathrow and Gatwick passengers had endured severe disruption to services due to their close proximity to the no-fly zone.

But at about 11am, air traffic control service Nats said the Civil Aviation Authority had lifted the no-fly zone that had been affecting Heathrow and Gatwick.

It added: “The decision comes following further information from the Met Office about the nature and location of the ash cloud.

“The no-fly zone remains in place in two key areas affecting operations in Northern Ireland and the Shetland Isles. Airports falling within the no-fly zones include Belfast City, Londonderry, Shetland and Orkney. All other airports are open.”

Manchester and Birmingham airports reopened at 1am following major disruption yesterday, but passengers everywhere are being urged to check with their airlines.

Nats warned the ash cloud was “continuing to change shape” as it spread over southern England to Northern Ireland and as far north as the Shetland Isles.

Meanwhile, hopes of a last-ditch deal to avert the first of a series of strikes by British Airways cabin crew plunged today when its chief executive said he did not expect any progress to be made during peace talks.

BA boss Willie Walsh said as he arrived for a meeting with Transport Secretary Philip Hammond that the airline was preparing to put into place contingency plans for dealing with the first of four five-day walkouts tomorrow. Nats warned that the ash restrictions could persist in the UK until tomorrow.

Forecasters are expecting a change in the north-westerly wind today, which is expected to blow the “high density” cloud away from Britain tomorrow.

Earlier revisions meant airports in the north of England reopened from 1am today.

Birmingham International Airport reopened at 1am

• Airport will remain open subject to ash conditions.
• There was a brief closure last night and there are some disruptions today.
• Some early morning flights left on time today but a number have been cancelled.
• Travellers told to check with airline.

East Midlands Airport reopened at 1am.

• The airport will remain open subject to ash conditions.
• Travellers told to check with airline.
• Cancelled flights include routes to Berlin, Budapest, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Manchester Airport reopened at 1am.

• Airport will remain open subject to ash conditions. Travellers told to check with airline.
• Cancelled flights include routes to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Belfast
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport all outgoing flights cancelled until 12.30pm.
• Some aircraft did land this morning.
• Travellers told to check with airline.

Airports in the South East, parts of Scotland and Ireland, Paris and Amsterdam remain subject to some restrictions which means flights to and from these areas will be disrupted.

Some transatlantic services are also affected this morning.