Flights scrapped as Iceland ash heads to N.L.

Volcanic ash from Iceland isheading for Newfoundland, prompting several airlines to cancel flights to and from St. John's.

Transport Canada and Nav Canada have informed the St. John's International Airport that there is about a 30 per cent chance the ash will hit St. John's airspace, an airport spokeswoman said late Sunday.

Since Thursday, millions of passengers have had plans foiled or delayed because of a ban on air travel that has gradually expanded over large swaths of Europe as the ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland continued to spread and move across the continent.

Air Canada, WestJet and Porter Airlines have cancelled flights as a precaution on Sunday evening until 9 a.m. local time Monday, airport spokeswoman Marie Manning said. At least13 flights, including one from Continental Airlines,have been cancelled, according to the St. John's International Airport Authority's website.

Neither Transport Canada nor Nav Canada have issued an order to shut the airspace, so each airline will have to assess whether or notto resume operations after 9 a.m., she said.

Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Man said the airline hasalsocancelled Monday morning flights to and from Gander and Deer Lake.

She advised passengers to check the airline's website for the most up-to-date information.

The Juno Awardswereheldin St. John's on Sunday evening, andsome musicians were worried they would have trouble getting back to the mainland.

Triple winnerMichael Bubl told The Canadian Press that he had to cut short his celebrations in the citybecause his pilot informed him that the ash cloud could hit the city by 3 a.m.

"It could be three days before anybody leaves here. It's causing a little bit of panic. I hope I'm not bringing terrible news to everybody but it wouldn't be too bad to have to stay here for afew days," said Bubl.

Most overnight flights into St. John's were cancelled, as were departures Monday morning.

Air Canadais also tellingpassengers that service to western Newfoundland airports, Deer Lake and Gander is affected by the ash threat.

Reporting fromSt. John's International Airport on Monday morning, CBC reporter Vik Adhopia said at least 10 flightswerecancelled by 7:30 a.m. NT.