Icelandic Volcanoes

Passengers left stranded in airports by delays and cancellations are set to win new rights to food, water, compensation and fresh flights under a package of measures unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The global tourism industry, hit by natural disasters and economic turmoil, is eyeing potential travellers from emerging nations in hope that their growing middle and upper classes could spur growth.

Argentina and Uruguay both suspended flights at major airports Sunday due to dangerous ash from neighboring Chile's Puyehue volcano, which has disrupted global travel since it erupted earlier this year.

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Numbers of tourists visiting Ireland rose more than 15 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, data showed, as high-profile visits by Britain's Queen Elizabeth and U.S. President Barack Obama helped paint the country in a positive light.

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said on Monday that net profits soared by nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of its financial year, boosted by surging passenger numbers.

Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar said Wednesday its sales rose four percent in the first six months of the year to £421 million (481 million euros, $678 million) compared with the first half of 2010.

Iceland's volcanoes gained notoriety last year for their ash-spewing ability to ground airlines and make a mess. But they also pay their dues, drawing tourists eager to see the source of the chaos.

Acclaimed director Ridley Scott began on Monday shooting scenes for his next film at the foot of an Icelandic volcano that may be stirring to life, but appeared unfazed by the prospect of an eruption.

A massive flood of meltwater poured out of Iceland's Myrdalsjokull glacier Saturday, raising fears of an eruption from the powerful Katla volcano underneath, but experts said a large blast was unlikely.

One of Iceland's most feared volcanoes looks ready to erupt, with measurements indicating magma movement, Icelandic experts said Wednesday, raising fears of a new ash cloud halting flights over Europe.

One of Iceland's most feared volcanoes looks ready to erupt, with measurements indicating magma movement, Icelandic experts said Wednesday, raising fears of a new ash cloud halting flights over Europe.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian airlines struggled to move a backlog of tens of thousands of passengers on Wednesday after an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano, which had grounded flights across the country's eastern and southern states, cleared.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian airlines struggled to move a backlog of tens of thousands of passengers on Wednesday after an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano, which had grounded flights across the country's eastern and southern states, cleared.

The ash cloud from a Chilean volcano that disrupted flights and stranded travelers as far away as Australia returned after its own round-the-world tour on Friday, civil aviation officials said.

Flights across Australia began returning to normal Thursday after days of travel chaos from the Chile ash cloud, but some services to New Zealand remained grounded.

Flights across Australia began returning to normal Thursday after days of travel chaos from the Chile ash cloud, but some services to New Zealand remained grounded.

Airborne ash from a Chilean volcano dissipated enough Wednesday for flights to resume in Argentina's capital, but it spread farther across the globe worsening travel chaos in Australia.

Travel chaos from the Chile ash cloud spread to Western Australia on Wednesday with Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar suspending flights into and out of Perth.

A Chilean volcano spewing dangerous ash high into the sky, sowing air travel havoc from South America to Australia for the past week, could have even more intense eruptions in the days to come, government geologists warned.

A Chilean volcano spewing dangerous ash high into the sky, sowing air travel havoc from South America to Australia for the past week, could have even more intense eruptions in the days to come, government geologists warned.