THE flights shutdown caused by volcanic ash has already cost Southampton Airport more than £100,000, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Chaos has hit more than 10,000 city passengers and a national forecaster warns planes may be grounded for weeks to come.

The airport closed its doors at 11.30am Thursday and has since cancelled about 260 flights.

Airport boss David Lees said: “Passengers should not travel to the airport until further notice and should remain in touch with their airlines.

“We appreciate the continued patience of passengers at this difficult time and will provide updates as often as possible. The two days have cost us in excess of £100,000.”

Last night NATS said: “The volcanic ash cloud continues to affect UK airspace. Following the latest update from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 1pm today at the earliest.

“There are currently no airspace restrictions in Scotland, Northern Ireland and in an area over the North Sea that includes the Shetlands and Orkney Isles. However restrictions could return.”

Ryanair, which flies routes into Bournemouth Airport, has said it will not start scheduled flights to and from the UK until 1pm on Monday, while British Airways last night cancelled all flights in and out of London airports today.

National forecaster Mark Seltzer, from the Met Office, has said while the Iceland volcano continues to rage there is no way of telling how long it will continue to pump ash into the air.

He said: “I can’t rule out that it could be weeks if the volcano continues to erupt and weather conditions stay the same.

“The ash cloud is now at 6,000ft over Hampshire but it is such a fine film people won’t be able to see it.”