Keeping an eye on the volcanic sky

The International Air Transport Association has estimated that airlines, already hit hard by the global economic downturn, lost €1.5 billion during April alone after more than 100,000 flights were cancelled across Europe. And now fresh clouds of ash from Eyjafjallajökull are being blown across the continent by north-westerly winds. To help you understand the fallout, we've collected a list of websites that provide information for air travellers.

• Eurocontrol: The EU air safety body has a dedicated page titled "Special Report on Volcanic Ash Cloud". Along with press statements and videos, it contains a Twitter feed with the very latest updates on the situation.
• NATS: "Safety is always NATS' first and foremost priority," says the air-traffic authority that provides services to aircraft flying in UK airspace. Its statements on the "volcanic ash situation" are as low-key as the site itself, but seeing that NATS handled some 2.2 million flights carrying around 200 million passengers last year, the understatement is comforting.
• The Irish Aviation Authority: "Dublin airport will be open from 1200 hours local today, as the volcanic ash cloud moves off to the east. Donegal airport will open at 1400 hours local, Sligo airport will open at 1000 hours local and all other airports are open until further notice." That's a typical IAA statement these days.

For something that has caused so much misery, Eyjafjallajökull is remarkably beautiful, as photographer Sean Stiegemeier shows.