The disease was first observed as a new form of ash dieback in Poland in 1992, and has since spread to ash trees in many European countries.

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But Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations for Eurocontrol, told the BBC that while half of the European landmass could be clear of ash cloud, that did not mean half of the flights could go ahead.

BBC: EU emergency talks called on volcanic ash air chaos

Should that match in Italy go ahead if European air travel resumes following the volcanic ash fallout from Iceland, Inter boss Jose Mourinho will have eagerly noted Espanyol's success in nullifying Barcelona's star-studded line-up.

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The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55, 000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland.

BBC: Icelandic volcanic ash alert grounds UK flights

Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management organization, sees no impact on the European mainland for now, but shifting winds may carry the ash cloud to parts of Scotland and Ireland within the next 24 hours.

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Past incidents of aircraft trying to fly through volcanic ash clouds and suffering damage and engine failure led European officials to shut their air spaces rather than risk a catastrophe, said Joe Sultana, an official at Eurocontrol, the intergovernmental body that manages European air travel.

CNN: Air travel paralyzed as volcanic ash cloud lingers

According to a European Commission memo, more than 100, 000 flights were cancelled during the volcanic ash crisis in April 2010, with more than 10 million people affected.

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