New air rules planned to ease volcano chaos

The new system would adopt the US practice of imposing a 120-mile no-fly buffer zone for all aircraft near any visible ash plume, a significant departure from current procedures.

Last month a large part of European airspace was closed when ash from the Icelandic volcano drifted over northern and western parts of the continent. Many criticised the move as an unnecessary over-reaction.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has discussed the plans with the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Commission, airlines and other national authorities.

"We have put forward a proposal for an air traffic rule, effectively adopting the US rules," a spokesman said. "But this has yet to be agreed by European authorities."

Over the weekend a new eruption from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano caused more disruptions of air traffic between North America and Europe. It also floated over the Iberian Peninsula other parts of southern Europe, eventually touching the North African coast before starting to disperse.

Eurocontrol, the continent's air safety management agency, said small areas of high ash concentration at lower altitudes were still causing difficulties yesterday for trans-Atlantic flights. They were also affecting the islands of Madeira and the Azores.