The first flights to leave Leeds-Bradford International airport in five days are due to take off for Belfast tomorrow.

The Jet2 service to Northern Ireland is scheduled to leave at 5pm with more flights planned for Wednesday.

Ryanair hoped to get flights going again “by lunchtime Wednesday”. A spokesman said the airline hoped to clear the backlog of flights “within a day or two”.

The moves came after air traffic control company Nats lifted restrictions for Scotland and part of northern England fot tomorrow.

After days without any flights above the UK due to volcanic ash, Nats said last night that Scottish airspace would open at 7am on Tuesday. Airspace south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool would also be open, with the hope that restrictions over the rest of England and Wales will be lifted later tomorrowy.

Nats said: “The volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK. Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions, we are now looking at a continuously improving situation.

“This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 7am.

“However, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south, with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later.

“It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity. Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans.”

Before the Nats announcement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that two Royal Navy ships were to be used to help bring Britons home, with a third vessel also possibly being deployed.