In the UK commercial flights have now been banned until at least 0700 local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday. In northern France and northern Italy, airports are to remain shut until at least Monday. Unable to catch flights, commuters across northern Europe have sought other means of transport, packing out trains, buses and ferries. The Eurostar cross-channel rail service said it had never seen so many passengers on one day and the trains were fully booked until Monday.
US President Barack Obama has cancelled his visit to Poland.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was due to return from a visit to the US on Friday, had to fly to Lisbon where she spent the night.
With all German airports still closed, she flew on to Italy on Saturday and is set to continue her journey home by bus.
The disruption also forced the cancellation of the inaugural Iraqi Airways flight from Baghdad to London.
The travel chaos has been felt as far away as North America and Asia, with dozens of Europe-bound flights being cancelled.
British health officials said any effects of the ash on people with existing respiratory conditions were "likely to be short term".
Southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month on Wednesday, sending a plume of ash 8.5km (5.3 miles) high into the air.
Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the highly volatile boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental plates.
*News Source: BBC News Online
