Air travellers facing Rome delays

Thousands have been viewing the Pope's body every hour

UK passengers due to fly to Rome are facing disruption as a 12 mile-wide section of airspace is closed to ensure security at the Pope's funeral.

The restrictions, centred around the Vatican, mean Ciampino airport, used by Easyjet and Ryanair, will be closed for the next two days.

In total 113 of their flights will be disrupted. Easyjet will fly to Bologna, a four-hour train journey from Rome.

Ryanair will fly to Pescara - 130 miles away - or Rome's Fiumicino airport.

The restriction will be imposed from 1000 BST on Thursday to 2400 BST on Friday.

Easyjet is cancelling 16 flights to and from Rome and putting on extra flights to and from Bologna instead. Passengers can have a refund or go to Rome another time.

Ryanair is cancelling 97 flights to and from Rome.

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Rome's Fiumicino airport will be accepting 30% fewer inbound flights during the two days, but British Airways, which flies to Fiumicino, says none of its flights will be affected.

Some 200 foreign dignitaries are to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral on Friday, sparking a massive security operation.

They include US President George W Bush, his predecessor Bill Clinton, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles.

Since the Pope died on Saturday, about 4m visitors have travelled to Rome, more than doubling its population.

Authorities in the city have been urging pilgrims to stay away from the centre, saying it cannot cope with any more before Friday's funeral.