“Our New York flights will last about 10 – 15 minutes longer than usual, as pilots fly a slightly more northbound route,” explained Finnair Information Officer Päivi Huhtanen.

On Saturday a new plume of ash and debris from the fuming Icelandic volcano forced Spanish authorities to close as many as 15 airports in the country's southwest.

The sporadic eruptions also disrupted air traffic in Ireland. The latest rumblings have affected trans-Atlantic flights, as the plume has risen to ten-thousand kilometres, the altitude normally used by high-flying aircraft. Flights using this route will in general be delayed by about one hour.