Aviation experts on Sunday expect that the massive plume of smoke coming from an erupting volcano in Iceland will have limited impact on air travel as European air routes remain open despite fears the smoke could spread to southern Europe next week.

Iceland's most active volcano, Grimsvotn, erupted over the weekend which forced the closure of the nation's main international airport. Authorities said that a thick cloud of ash blocked out daylight in some towns and villages in Iceland. Cars and buildings were covered with thick ash.

"Ash cloud is expected to reach North Scotland on Tuesday 24th May. If volcanic emissions continue with same intensity, cloud might reach west French airspace and north Spain on Thursday 26th May," Europe's traffic control organization said in a traffic bulletin.

The eruption of Grimsvotn was stronger than the one recorded in Iceland early this year which closed down European airspace and stopped transatlantic flights on fears the ash particles could disrupt engines and cause air accidents.

But meteorologists are confident the eruption will not disrupt air traffic as wind conditions are more favourable. They said the content of the plume was heavier and is not expected to spread to a wide area.

Others said the impact on air travel this time would be more limited as winds were more favorable, the content of the plume was heavier therefore less likely to spread and authorities now had a higher tolerance for ash levels.

Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, University of Iceland Professor of Geophysics said, "It could lead to some disruption, but only for a very limited time and only over a very limited area.We see some signs that the power is declining a bit, but it is still quite powerful." The volcano's most violent eruption was recorded in 1873.