A passenger waits in line at the Lufthansa counter to check into a flight scheduled to leave for Europe at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. (AP)

BRUSSELS (AP) – Aviation authorities say they have closed the airspace over parts of Norway and Sweden as shifting winds send a new cloud of volcanic ash over Scandinavia.

The Swedish aviation authority says airspace is still open over the capital Stockholm, but closed over the southern cities of Goteborg and Malmo, and large parts of western and northern Sweden.

Authority spokesman Bjorn Stenberg says changing winds meant the ash cloud over Sweden didn't disperse as forecast. Meanwhile, new ash clouds are blowing in over western Norway.

Norwegian authorities say Oslo remains open but airspace over western Norway has closed again, including Stavanger and Bergen.

Eurocontrol says it expects nearly 22,000 flights over Europe on Thursday.