UK may close airports

Volcanic ash from Iceland could disrupt air travel in both Britain and Germany in the next few days, officials say. The British Department of Transport said on Saturday there's a risk that parts of British airspace could be closed beginning on Sunday and those problems could continue until Tuesday. The predictions are based on the continuing eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano and current wind and weather conditions.

It said different parts of British airspace - including England's southeast, home to Europe's busiest airport at Heathrow as well as Gatwick, Stansted and other top airports - could close at different times through the next few days.

In Germany, air traffic control spokesman Axel Raab told The Associated Press that German air travel could face possible disruptions starting on Monday, but cautioned that indicators are still "very, very vague".

Germany will send up a test flight on Sunday to measure the ash concentration, German Aerospace Center spokesman Andreas Schuetz said - a measure welcomed by Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, which last month criticised air traffic authorities for their lack of ash testing. (Sydney Morning Herald)