Málaga and Murcia airports could be closed by the ash cloud for a time around 1800 tonight.

14:13 El NACHO 0 Comments

Málaga and Murcia airports could be closed by the ash cloud for a time around 1800 tonight.

Lisbon airport is now open again, and awaiting the arrival of the Pope. 126 flights had been cancelled in Spain today by 2pm.

Earlier there were flight restrictions in some parts of Spanish airspace between 20,000 and 35,000 feet, led to delays in operations, with only 25% of normal airspace capacity Monday evening over Sevilla, Madrid and Barcelona.

The Spanish Ministry of Defence has opened its airspace to commercial traffic to try and ease the situation, and the Ministry for Development has created a coordination commission to try and guarantee air services across the country

32 flights to Portugal, and 19 to the U.K. out of a total 305 flights were cancelled Monday, 5.7% of the total because of the restrictions, but far more will be lost today if the airports remain closed or if the ash cloud expands.