AIR traffic controllers at Prestwick are gearing up for a surge in traffic in the airspace between Scotland and Iceland as aircraft divert from their normal flight paths to give passengers a unique vantage point on the solar eclipse.

The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic have become a worldwide destination for scientists and eclipse-chasers eager to experience a total eclipse, as opposed to the partial eclipse which will be visible in the skies over the UK.

However, the most ambitious are scrambling to be on flights which will follow the so-called "path of totality", the 100 mile-wide shadow of the moon which will pass across the Earth's surface when it align to block out the sun.

Although the islands are in Icelandic airspace, air traffic controllers at Prestwick are expecting and preparing for an increase in flights through domestic and oceanic airspace in the vicinity of the Faroe Islands and along the path of totality.

Kevin Morgan, Airspace Capacity Manager for the National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS), said: "The Oceanic Service Manager at Prestwick Centre, Gavin Dixon, has invested a considerable amount of time and energy ensuring that the additional flights, the majority of which have never entered the North Atlantic, have the correct level of equipment and understand the procedures to be followed in procedural airspace to reduce the opportunity of risk in the Shanwick OCA [the area of International Airspace which lies above the northeast part of the Atlantic Ocean].

"After all, this isn't something even airline crew experience every day and we expect many will file flight plans to take them through the area of totality for an experience flight crews and their passengers will remember forever.

"We have procedures in place to support any increase in flights, while ensuring our customers and their passengers are safe as they see the eclipse thousands of feet above the surface of the earth."

Companies that specialise in eclipse-related travel have been advertising tours for at least a year, and many sold out quickly.

Compared to the three minute spectacle which most will enjoy at ground level, from the sky over the North Atlantic the experience will last nearly four hours from 7:41am until 11:50am.

Air Events, a German travel company, will dispatch three Boeing 737s to view the rare event from the sky, while other eclipse fans have have reportedly been booking seats on an Icelandair flight from Reyjavik to London which, by chance, will pass through the lunar umbra.

Glasgow Airport will welcome 59 "astro-tourists" through its doors this morning, some of whom have paid £1,400 for a ticket on board Jet2's eclipse flight.

The sell-out flight chartered by Omega Holidays will take off at 7.30am, reaching a height of 38,000ft to give a clear, cloud-free view of the rare phenomenon.

Passengers will be joined on the Jet2 flight by renowned astronomer, Lee Sproats, who will be providing a commentary as the event unfolds.

Passengers will also have a row of seats each to ensure the best view from the plane's windows, and will be provided with special glasses to protect their eyes.

This will be the last total eclipse until 2026 and is the biggest eclipse over Scotland since 1954, with parts of northern Scotland due to experience 97 per cent coverage.

From Glasgow and Edinburgh, maximum coverage will occur around 9.34 to 9.35am.