Volcanic ash cloud: latest travel advice

British Airways has announced it will not operate any flights between London and Scotland before 2pm.

BMI has cancelled flights between London Heathrow and Aberdeen; Manchester and Aberdeen; Norwich and Aberdeen; Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh; and London Heathrow and Stavangar.

EasyJet has cancelled all flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen between 5am and 1pm today. Passengers flying to or from Newcastle, Belfast, Liverpool or Manchester are advised to check with the airline before travelling.

Flybe has cancelled all flights between Aberdeen and Birmingham, Manchester and London Gatwick; and between Inverness and Manchester and London Gatwick.

Ryanair has been ordered by Irish authorities to cancel all flights to and from Glasgow, Prestwick, Edinburgh or Aberdeen until at least 1pm.

Aer Lingus said it had cancelled 12 flights between Dublin and Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen; Shannon and Glasgow; and Cork and Glasgow.

KLM has cancelled more than 30 flights to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle.

Loganair, which mainly operates within Scotland, said it had scrapped 36 flights due to depart between 6am and 1pm, but is still operating inter-isles flights in Orkney.

My flight has been cancelled. What should I do?

Contact your airline, travel agent or the airport you are due to fly from for the latest information about travel arrangements.

If your flight is cancelled airlines should offer you either a full refund of your unused ticket or an alternative flight. EU-based airlines are required to offer you accommodation and meals if you are delayed in getting home to the UK.

If your flight is cancelled and you do not travel, insurers will refund your premium if you took out single trip travel insurance. If you arrange an alternative flight at a later date, your travel insurer should be able to change your policy to cover this.

What are my rights?

Following the ash cloud disruption in April 2010, it has been possible to buy travel insurance which specifically covers cancellation, delay and curtailment due to ash cloud disruption. Check your policy for the terms and conditions.

Check your travel insurance policy for any cover that may be available. While volcanic ash is not a specific risk in most policies, some may cover delay and any subsequent abandonment. Your travel insurer can advise.

Payment for any delay, whether outward or return, is usually a fixed sum for a specified period up to a maximum amount. Some policies may pay a lump sum if the delay is over a certain time (typically 24 hours), and you are forced to abandon your trip.

Where your travel policy covers ash disruption then you will be covered for this latest eruption, provided you took the policy out before this latest eruption could have been reasonably foreseen. Check with your insurer on this and any initial periods when cover may be limited.

ABI member travel insurers will provide information for customers on their websites wherever possible.

How do I reclaim if I'm delayed?

In order to reclaim ash flight and accommodation costs off your airline you will need to write to them, referencing the regulations and their responsibilities and including as many receipts as possible.

You should tell them that under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 Article 5 you are entitled to be reimbursed or re-routed under Article 8 and also offered assistance, including accommodation, meals and transport under Article 9.

You should also state that under Article 5, airlines are able to not pay compensation in accordance with article 7 in the case of 'extraordinary circumstances', but crucially that this extraordinary circumstances clause does not apply to the entitlement to assistance under Article 9.

Your expenses should be reasonable – you can't treat yourself and expect to get compensated. You are also unlikely to get a refund/compensation if you abandon your flight/any help offered and try to navigate your own way home.

For full details on insurance and claiming visit thisismoney.co.uk

For more information visit:

ABTA - The Travel Association

FCO - Foreign and Commonwealth Office

BAA (Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Southampton)

Gatwick Airport

London Luton

Fly-Be

Britsh Airways

Thomas Cook

Thomson

Monarch

Virgin Holidays

Civil Aviation Authority (for passenger rights)

Telegraph