Passengers heading in and out of Germany can expect severe delays today following a drift of ash from the erupting Icelandic volcano Grimsvotn.

Air traffic controller NATS says the ash has now moved away from UK airspace although it warns it may return at the weekend.

Germany has closed its northern airspace and Bremen and Hamburg airport shut early this morning. Both Berlin’s Schonefeld and Tegel airports are expected to close around 11am.

British Airways has cancelled one London to Hamburg and two Hamburg to London flights while Easyjet has also cancelled some German services.

Ryanair has dropped all flights in and out of Bremen, Lubeck and Magdeburg until 1pm today.

All advise passengers to check with their airline before travelling.

Yesterday 1600 services in and out of the north of England and Scotland were severely disrupted but airlines say they expect to resume normal service today.

However, European flights will be subject to delays.

But British Airway’s chief executive Willie Walsh told the BBC Today programme this morning that a test flight sent up yesterday through the ash cloud red zone found only minuscule levels of ash.

He said: “The simple answer is we found nothing.”

He told the BBC that BA would be making a case that it is safe to fly through the ash cloud, adding: “I think we need to understand the levels of concentration that we are talking about…the levels are absolutely tiny.”

Ryanair weighed into the debate in typically ebullient fashion. Chief executive Michael O’Leary also sent a test flight through the ash, accusing the Civil Aviation Authority of incompetence and calling the dangers of the ash cloud “mythical”.

He said: “They should take their finger out of their incompetent bureaucratic backsides and allow the aircraft back into the skies over Scotland”.

However, the CAA says Ryanair’s tests were not thorough and its test flight did not fly through the thickest concentration of ash.

Meanwhile, transport secretary Phillip Hammond said he refused to be dictated to by airlines.

He, said: “I do not think Michael O’Leary should take the law into his own hands and say I think it’s safe to fly. It’s not a responsible course of action.

“Neither I nor the CAA are going to be bullied by an airline operator.”

The Met Office is now predicting that the entire UK could be in the ash cloud red zone on Saturday with thick ash circulating at 35,000 feet.

via Ash cloud chaos moves to Germany-25 May, 2011.

As thousands of famiilies prepare for a half-term getaway, aviation authorities are now saying that an ash cloud from Iceland’s erupting volcano could cause serious disruption to travel plans later this week if it spreads across the UK.

Already thousands of passengers have been stranded as airlines cancelled flights to and from Scotland this morning because of drifting ash.

The following airlines have cancelled or suspended flights:

British Airways is not operating any flights between London and Scotland until 14:00 hrs

KLM cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle and flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport

EasyJet cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen until 13:00hrs.

Ryanair said it has been advised by the Irish Aviation Authority not to operate flights from Glasgow Prestwick, Edinburgh or Aberdeen until at least 1300hrs

Flybe cancelled flights to and from Aberdeen and Inverness

Bmi said flights to and from Aberdeen were subject to delay and passengers should check its website, but services in and out of Glasgow and Edinburgh are running normally

Glasgow-based Loganair has cancelled 36 flights, but its inter-island routes in Orkney are unaffected

Eastern Airways is not be operating any services in or out of Scottish airspace

The ash cloud is expected to reach other parts of the UK later this week, but the Met Office said changing wind patterns made it difficult to predict whether the ash cloud will spread.

The CAA said the cloud could potentially cause serious disruption as the ash density below 35,000ft had reached the highest level at more than 4,000 microgrammes per cubic metre.

However, it said airlines would be given permission to fly even in medium to high density ash as long as they had done a risk assessment with aircraft manufacturers and engine makers and they could prove to the CAA that there was no risk.

So far no airline has applied to fly in high density ash, it said, but a number have applied for permission to fly in medium density.

Ryanair complained this morning that it should not have been forced by the Irish Aviation Authority to ground its flights to and from Scotland. It said it was meeting with the authority this morning to have the restriction on flights removed.

via Ash cloud ‘could cause serious disruption’-24 May, 2011.

Popular TV series Benidorm has prompted a huge surge in interest in the Valencian destination, according to travel website Travelsupermarket.com.

The travel comparison site recently released figures that show a 159 per cent increase in searches for the destination on the night the programme airs, compared to the number of searches the rest of the week.

TV has boosted other destinations in the past – Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia, starring Nicole Kidman, boosted tourism in Oz, and New York was the world’s most “in” city during the Sex and the City series.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, says: “People love to be inspired by films, TV and celebrities for their holidays and it’s great to see such a surge in interest for Benidorm.”

The sand, sea and sangria shores of Benidorm are changing, though. A brand new five star boutique hotel, Villa Venecia, has just opened, with spectacular sea views and a chef in hot pursuit of his first Michelin star – and the hotel is also a first for Benidorm.

Despite a busy coastline that resembles Hong Kong more than a Spanish costa, perceptions of Benidorm are changing. It’s still a perennial favourite with families and the elderly – and for stag weekends – but the town’s tourism chiefs are now eager to attract the more adventurous and independent traveller, which explains why they are now promoting the classic destination to students and the gay market.

Stylish new bars are opening up among Benidorm’s urban skyline, and music is a main attraction. In July Benidorm will host the second Low Cost Festival, a three day music event with over 40 acts, and later this summer the Electrobeach Festival follows in August.

via Benidorm boosting Benidorm Timeshare, Go Timeshare.

Exposing too much skin in public or on the streets will soon become illegal in Barcelona, according to reports.

Wearing a bikini or Speedos on public streets or beaches in the popular Spanish city could result in fines between €120 to €300. Nudist could face even steeper fines of up to €500.

The new regulation on ‘nudity or virtual nudity in public places’ in Barcelona is coming into force later this month, during the peak time for traveling. It follows recent fines that were added prevent people from drinking from bottles or cans in the street.

According to a spokesperson for the Barcelona Tourist Office, the new move is part of a drive to shake off the destination’s reputation as a hub for hen and stag parties – a trend which has been driven by the rise of low cost flights to the destination.

Assumpta Escarp, deputy mayor for Barcelona City Council explained to the Sunday Times that local residents are ‘bothered’ by tourists who go dresses in a bikini in the streets. He stated “We have to maintain standards”.

Spain’s mass tourism boom in the 1960s was largely driven by bikini-clad tourists, after Pedro Zaragoza Orts, the Mayor of Benidorm, defied the Roman Catholic Church and allowed tourists to sunbathe on the beaches.

via Barcelona imposes £265 fine for bikinis | News | Breaking Travel News.

Seve Ballesteros, one of golf’s most gifted and charismatic players, has died after a long battle with cancer.

The 54-year-old passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Pedrena, northern Spain, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 after losing consciousness at Madrid Airport.

The five-time major winner had four operations to remove the tumour as well as undergoing chemotherapy.

In a statement, the Ballesteros family expressed gratitude for the “support and gestures of love” they had received and asked for “respect and privacy at such a painful time”.

Ballesteros, who claimed 87 titles over his career, won the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, repeating the feat in 1983.

He also enjoyed a successful Ryder Cup career as both player and captain – playing in eight Ryder Cups and winning 20 points from 37 matches before guiding Europe to victory over the United States at Valderrama in 1997.

But it was his daring and flamboyant style that made Ballesteros special, transforming the image of golf and bringing a whole new audience to the sport.

BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter said: “No golfer did more to popularise the game in Europe than Seve Ballesteros.

“He played a fearless, exciting and charismatic brand of the game. It thrilled sport fans all over the world.”

“It’s a sad day,” world number one Lee Westwood said on Twitter. “Lost an inspiration, genius, role-model, hero and friend. Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve.”

Ballesteros’ fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia added: “He was a game-changer. To come from where he did and do what he did was amazing.”

The European Tour will mark the loss of one of its most iconic talents with a minute’s silence during Saturday’s third round of the Spanish Open.

The flags at Real Club de Golf El Prat will be flown at half-mast, while the players will wear black ribbons.

Tennis star Rafael Nadal described Ballesteros as a “reference point” for Spanish athletes.

“He’s one of the greats of this country without a doubt,” he said.

BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss added: “He was a fighter – feisty, skilful, cheeky and loveable.

“He had hair as black as raven’s wing, a wonderful set of teeth and a lovely smile. When Seve was in a good mood the world was happy. I will always remember that smile.

“He had a very sad end but I will remember all the good things.”

Ballesteros sprang to prominence as a 19-year-old, finishing second to Johnny Miller at the 1976 Open and becoming the youngest winner of the Claret Jug three years later.

His final round of 70 featured an astonishing recovery shot from a car park to set up a birdie at the 16th hole.

He became the youngest winner of the Masters at the age of 23 in 1980 and made his Ryder Cup debut later that year.

Ballesteros topped golf’s world rankings for 61 weeks between 1986 and 1989 and won the World Match Play Championship five times, equalling Gary Player’s record.

There were so many defining characteristics, especially when he was in his pomp. Ballesteros brought a dashing athleticism to a game that at the time was rarely associated with such qualities

With his game starting to decline because of back problems, Ballesteros won the last of his record 50 European Tour titles in 1995.

And although he continued playing intermittently until 2007, he was generally a pale imitation of his former self and rarely featured on leaderboards.

Ballesteros appeared in public for the first time following the surgery in May 2009 when he went to watch his local football team Racing Santander and was given a standing ovation.

In December 2009 he appeared on television to receive the BBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Personality of the Year event from his former Ryder Cup partner – and now captain – Jose Maria Olazabal.

He had called his battle against the tumour the “hardest challenge of my life.”

via BBC Sport – Golf great Seve Ballesteros dies at 54.

The number of Spanish people filing for unemployment benefits rose for its eighth consecutive month in March.

The benefit claimant count rose by 34,406 people, to a new record of 4.3 million, the Labour Ministry said.

Spain’s total jobless rate is released separately every three months, and includes those not claiming benefits.

In February this number stood at 4.7 million people, about 20.5% of the population, and more than twice the eurozone average.

Spain’s government has imposed tough austerity measures to reduce its debts, and does not expect the economy to start creating jobs until the end of the year at the earliest.

The March data showed the services sector, which makes up around 70% of the country’s economy, saw the highest number of layoffs.

There was some relief for the embattled construction sector, which saw its unemployment level fall 4.4%.

“The fact that (overall unemployment) rose again despite indicators showing a cyclical recovery in Spain clouds the outlook for the economy and does not bode well for demand,” said Silvio Peruzzo, economist at Royal Bank of Scotland.

Youth unemployment remained a critical problem, with 12,830 lay-offs in March hitting people under 25 years old.

European Union data showed that youth unemployment in Spain was 43.5% in February.

via BBC News – Spain’s jobless level hits record high.

The beautiful and very popular Spanish actress Penélope Cruz is really amongst the stars now on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Spanish star, Penelope Cruz, became the first Spanish born actress to get her own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in a ceremony on 1st April 2011.

The beautiful Spaniard was accompanied by her husband Javier Bardem and by Johhny Depp with whom she will be starring in the latest Pirates of The Caribbean movie , due out this summer. She left her baby son, Leo, born in Los Angeles at the end of January at home for the occasion. Penélope Cruz’s star is number 2436 and can be found in front of the El Capitan Theatre.

Penélope Cruz, , quoted in El Pais, said in English “Thank you to my parents and my precious brother and sister for all the support and love they have given me, and of course to my marvellous husband and my son who make me happier every day.” She then added in Spanish that is was a very special and happy day for her, especially thanking Spanish Director, Pedro Almodóvar for all his work in helping with her career.

Ms Cruz was born near Madrid and trained as a classical dancer from the age of ten. She has a younger brother, Eduardo and a younger sister, Monica. It was watching the Pedro Almódovar film ‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ that first interested her in the world of film but she suffered a number of rejections before finally getting a break as a teenage presenter on Spanish channel Telecinco. He first feature film was ‘Jamón, Jamón’ , made when she was just 17 in which she appeared topless. She was nominated for a Goya Award for the film.

She hit the international big time though from 2001 when she featured in the film ‘Vanilla Sky’ with Tom Cruise, with whom she had a three year relationship. She appeared in various other films, receiving critical acclaim for her role in the Almodóvar film ‘Volver’ in 2006. She became the first Spaniard to be nominated for an Academy Award For Best Supporting Actress.

She went on to become the first Spanish actress to receive an Oscar for her performance in Vicky Christina Barcelona, a film by Woody Allen. Most recently , she starred in ‘Nine’ for which she was also nominated in Best Supporting Actress.

She began dating Javier Bardem in 2007 and they married in 2010 in a private ceremony in the Bahamas with only close friends and family present.

via Spain’s Penélope Cruz Gets Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said he will not seek a third term in office after parliamentary elections due next year.

Mr Zapatero, whose popularity is at an all-time low, said it was the right decision for the country, his centre-left Socialist party and his family.

He became Prime Minister in 2004 in the wake of the Madrid train bombings.

Spain’s economy was booming then. It has since suffered a deep recession, and unemployment is at 20%.

Mr Zapatero said he would stand down as party leader when a successor had been chosen.

That process – through a series of ‘primaries’ – will begin after local elections on 22 May.

The Socialists are currently 15% behind the right of centre Popular Party in the polls and are expected to suffer heavy losses.

Mr Zapatero said he was making his position clear now, a year ahead of parliamentary elections, in order to end the uncertainty and speculation over his future.

That was distracting the government from its main tasks, he said: lifting Spain out of recession and creating jobs.

Sarah Rainsford, in Madrid, says Mr Zapatero’s party will be hoping his announcement gives them a boost at the local elections.

But it also leaves a good deal of uncertainty, our correspondent says – the kind of “distraction” the PM said he was trying to avoid.

via BBC News – Spain: Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero not to stand again.

Reports from Spain say that Gary Vigors was fatally injured during a disturbance outside a bar.

A Foreign Office official confirmed the death and said that consular staff were in contact with the next of kin.

The Spanish authorities are investigating. A man believed to be from Northamptonshire has been arrested in connection with the death.

via BBC News – Briton killed in Spanish bar brawl.

Travellers heading to Spain for Easter face chaos after the country’s main trade unions announced 22 days of planned strikes.

They including four during Easter week and other walkouts have been called for the May bank holiday, and at the height of summer.

Unions are protesting at the government’s partial privatisation of the airport management company.

They argue that this will lead to airport closures and job losses.

Transport Minister Jose Blanco has said the government will meet union officials on Thursday for talks to avert the walkout.

The government plans to sell a 49% stake in the national airport authority, Aena.

It values that stake at close to 8bn euros (£7bn; $11bn) – crucial to its efforts to reduce the budget deficit and avoid a debt crisis like those in Greece and Ireland.

But trade union officials fear the sell-off will mean job losses, poorer working conditions for those retained and a reduced service.

They are also demanding that all 47 Spanish airports remain open – even the ones that are small and unprofitable.

Up to 12,000 workers could join the walkout – including firefighters and some security staff – bringing airports across the country to a standstill.

The trade unions say they have been in negotiations with the government since the privatisation was announced in December but that those talks have now stopped.

Tourism and airline managers are calling for both sides to act responsibly, warning such strike action – at peak holiday times – would cause serious damage to Spain’s economy, which is still struggling to recover from the recession.

via BBC News – Holiday strikes loom for Spanish over Aena dispute.