Iceland shuts main airport after volcano sends ash plume 12 miles into sky; Europe air routes still open

The eruption at Grimsvotn has so far hit only Iceland, where the civil aviation authority said the prospects for re-opening the main international airport on Monday were not good.

A thick cloud of ash blocked out the daylight at towns and villages at the foot of the glacier where the volcano lies and covered cars and buildings.

The eruption was much stronger than the one at a volcano further south last year which closed European airspace and halted transatlantic flights, due to worries particles could get into engines and cause accidents.

Iceland's meteorological office said the plume from Grimsvotn, which last exploded in 2004, had fallen to 10 to 15 km in height from a peak of 25 km (16 miles).

Europe's air traffic control organization warned on its website of a possible spread.

"Ash cloud is expected to reach North Scotland on Tuesday 24th May. If volcanic emissions continue with same intensity, cloud might reach west French airspace and north Spain on Thursday 26th May," it said in a traffic bulletin.

Others said the impact on air travel this time would be more limited as winds were more favorable, the content of the plume was heavier therefore less likely to spread and authorities now had a higher tolerance for ash levels.