Three flights departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport late on April 19, bound for New York, Shanghai and Dubai.

There are hopes that many routes within Europe will be able to resume operations on April 20. But UK air traffic officials said a new ash cloud spreading from Iceland cast doubt on plans to reopen UK airspace.

Earlier, the UK air traffic control body, Nats, said the flight ban would be lifted over Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.

British Airways says it is "reviewing" its plan to resume flights from London airports from 1800 GMT, in the light of the latest reports.