SOME flights are due to return to Southampton Airport today for the first time since the volcano ash crisis shut down all flights.

Small planes from Aurigny Air Services have been reintroduced at the airport to and from Alderney.

An airport spokeswoman said the airline decided to take the decision to fly because pilots are able to operate using visual flight rules, which means they fly under cloud level and with the ground in sight.

"We have been advised by NATS that restrictions to airspace remain in place for Southampton Airport until further notice.

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"Operations of smaller aircraft may continue to fly to and from Southampton Airport.

"The decision to operate lies with the airline," she said.

The airline will operate three flights to and three flights from Southampton to Alderney today.

Aurigny Air Services recently celebrated their 40 th anniversary of flights from Southampton Airport and in that time have had six planes which have flown more than a million passengers on more than 100,000 flights.

A spokesman for Nats said: "The situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland remains dynamic and the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable.

"Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1300-1900 today, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.

"Overnight the CAA, in line with new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided flights above the ash cloud will be permitted in the UK; between 1300-1900 this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.

"We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change during the course of the day. We will make a further statement at approximately 1500.

"NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.

"We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions."