Ash cloud shuts seven airports in Canaries, mainland Spain

Volcanic ash from Iceland forced the shutdown on Tuesday of four airports in the Canary islands and three in the south of mainland Spain, the Spanish air traffic control agency Aena told AFP.

Both airports on Tenerife, plus those on La Palma and La Gomera, suspended operations at 4:00 am (0300 GMT), while those in Seville, Jerez and Badajoz shut down two hours later.

“We do not know when they could reopen,” an Aena spokeswoman told AFP, a day after the drifting cloud of ash led to restrictions on flying through Spanish airspace, but no airport closures.