Flybe, the UK’s Number One domestic airline, is moving quickly to develop innovative contingency ‘rescue’ plans to provide a ‘lifeline shuttle service’ between Scotland and Northern Ireland as soon as it receives confirmation from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) that Scottish airspace is declared open after 1900, a decision expected early this afternoon.  .

Although English airspace has been declared closed until 0100 Saturday morning as a result of volcanic ash fallout from the Icelandic volcanic eruption, things are looking brighter for Scottish airspace later today.

Flybe has thereore put plans in place to ensure that it can accommodate as many stranded passengers as possible between the two countries with plans to operate the flights listed below later today on as many as seven aircraft (dependent on demand) between Glasgow and George Best Belfast City Airport. Tickets are now on sale at www.flybe.com from £23.99 one way including taxes and charges for the following flights.

BE131 Belfast City to Glasgow dep 19:00 arr 19:45

BE135 Belfast City to Glasgow dep 20:15 arr 21:00

BE134 Glasgow to Belfast City dep 19:00 arr 19:45

BE132 Glasgow to Belfast City dep 19:55 arr 20:40

Flights will be used to re-accommodate free of charge those passengers that haven’t been able to fly over the last 36 hours, but are also available for those who don’t currently hold bookings and who might wish to just turn up at the airport and fly.

In once again demonstrating its commitment to serving its regional passengers, Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “We are very aware of the enormous disruption that this unprecedented event has caused. As soon as we receive the go-ahead from NATS regarding the opening up of Scottish airspace, we are ready to start moving passengers ahead of the weekend. We are here to serve the region and have several aircraft already ready and waiting. It is our intention to move as many passengers as we can between Northern Ireland and Scotland throughout the evening. We will continue to take bookings and fill as many aircraft as required.”

Flybe will also operate services to Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen subject to updated Met Office forecasts later today and Flybe’s franchise partner, Loganair, is also hoping to operate certain Western Isle services this afternoon – please check the Loganair website for full details.