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| Stranded Britons face air chaos | Stranded Britons face air chaos |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The UK is experiencing its fourth day as a virtual no-fly zone due to volcanic ash drifting from Iceland, leaving thousands of Britons stranded. | |
| Flight restrictions have been extended until at least 0100 BST on Monday and forecasters say the ash cloud could remain over the UK for many more days. | Flight restrictions have been extended until at least 0100 BST on Monday and forecasters say the ash cloud could remain over the UK for many more days. |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he wanted flights to resume as soon as possible but safety came first. | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he wanted flights to resume as soon as possible but safety came first. |
| He added: "The forecast for tomorrow is not encouraging." | He added: "The forecast for tomorrow is not encouraging." |
| Planes were first grounded in the UK at midday on Thursday amid fears that particles in the ash cloud generated by the volcanic eruption could cause engines to shut down. | Planes were first grounded in the UK at midday on Thursday amid fears that particles in the ash cloud generated by the volcanic eruption could cause engines to shut down. |
| COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (limited flights in north)Spain (northern airports closed) Flights operating: Greece, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine Live: Volcano cloud over Europe In pictures: Flight disruption Economic impact of closures | COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (limited flights in north)Spain (northern airports closed) Flights operating: Greece, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine Live: Volcano cloud over Europe In pictures: Flight disruption Economic impact of closures |
| Lord Adonis said further test flights will take place in the UK to help understand the extent of the impact of the ash cloud. | |
| "I wish to establish, as a matter of urgency, whether some safe flight paths can be identified and opened up to flights within the area affected by ash." | "I wish to establish, as a matter of urgency, whether some safe flight paths can be identified and opened up to flights within the area affected by ash." |
| He also said "urgent discussions" were taking place between European and international agencies to ease the chaos. | He also said "urgent discussions" were taking place between European and international agencies to ease the chaos. |
| The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned airlines would lose at least £130m per day in revenues during the disruption. | |
| Dutch airline KLM and German airline Lufthansa have carried out test flights in their countries' airspace to see if it is safe for planes to fly. | Dutch airline KLM and German airline Lufthansa have carried out test flights in their countries' airspace to see if it is safe for planes to fly. |
| KLM, which is inspecting test plane engines for possible damage with a view to restarting its operations, said its aircraft had been able to fly at its normal operating altitude of 13km (8 miles) over Dutch skies and no problems had been reported. | |
| AT THE SCENE Lorna Gordon, BBC News, Iceland | AT THE SCENE Lorna Gordon, BBC News, Iceland |
| In some small areas the volcanic fallout has been significant. It is clogging car engines, turning grass grey and reducing visibility to just a few metres. | In some small areas the volcanic fallout has been significant. It is clogging car engines, turning grass grey and reducing visibility to just a few metres. |
| The police say driving conditions can be very difficult in these places. I heard one tale recounting that the moment you drive into the ash cloud it can feel as if you are driving into a wall. | The police say driving conditions can be very difficult in these places. I heard one tale recounting that the moment you drive into the ash cloud it can feel as if you are driving into a wall. |
| The affected area is remote with only a few hundred people, most of them living in isolated homes and many of them farmers. They have been advised to stay inside with the windows and doors shut and if they do venture out to wear goggles and a mask. | The affected area is remote with only a few hundred people, most of them living in isolated homes and many of them farmers. They have been advised to stay inside with the windows and doors shut and if they do venture out to wear goggles and a mask. |
| Despite the hazards the volcano and its column of smoke are drawing visitors. They are also triggering lightning. The authorities are having to remind people they should not consider the volcano a tourist attraction. In fact, they have closed the country's ring road in the area affected to all but locals and the emergency services. | Despite the hazards the volcano and its column of smoke are drawing visitors. They are also triggering lightning. The authorities are having to remind people they should not consider the volcano a tourist attraction. In fact, they have closed the country's ring road in the area affected to all but locals and the emergency services. |
| "We have found nothing unusual, neither during the flight, nor during the first inspection on the ground," said KLM chief executive Peter Hartman, who took part in his airline's test. | |
| Meanwhile, Brian Flynn, head of operations at Eurocontrol, the organisation in charge of air safety in Europe, denied aviation authorities were being over cautious. | |
| He said: "The accepted methodology that we have in Europe - the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation - are the guidelines that we are using, and that is that any risk of an aircraft penetrating an area that could have volcanic ash in it could have extreme safety consequences." | |
| Mr Flynn said the "over-riding objective of protecting the travelling public" meant exceptional measures have to be taken. | |
| Lufthansa said it flew 10 planes from Frankfurt to Munich at heights of up to 8km (5 miles). Air France is to conduct a test flight over south-western France later on Sunday. | |
| BBC business editor Robert Peston said the disruption risked becoming a "major business and economic disaster". | BBC business editor Robert Peston said the disruption risked becoming a "major business and economic disaster". |
| He said a number of European airlines were facing financial difficulties. | He said a number of European airlines were facing financial difficulties. |
| What worries BA and other airlines is that they have absolutely no idea when they will be able to start flying again Robert PestonBBC business editor Robert Peston's blog | |
| Our correspondent said: "If [the disruption] goes on many days longer, a number of European airlines will run into financial difficulties and may need bailing out by governments - or so I am told by senior airline figures." | Our correspondent said: "If [the disruption] goes on many days longer, a number of European airlines will run into financial difficulties and may need bailing out by governments - or so I am told by senior airline figures." |
| Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is considering plans to fly troops wounded in Afghanistan to coalition partner countries such as Germany for treatment if UK airspace remains closed. | |
| Under normal circumstances wounded troops would be flown home and treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. | |
| The disruption has affected hundreds of thousands of travellers since Wednesday, when the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting. | The disruption has affected hundreds of thousands of travellers since Wednesday, when the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting. |
| Cassandra Williams, who had been expecting to start her new job as a head teacher in Norfolk on Monday, is stuck in Hong Kong. | Cassandra Williams, who had been expecting to start her new job as a head teacher in Norfolk on Monday, is stuck in Hong Kong. |
| EXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/public/air.shtml">Travel latest | |
| Ms Williams said: "There are lots of children meant to be taking GCSEs and A levels and they are very worried about when they might be able to fly to get home." | Ms Williams said: "There are lots of children meant to be taking GCSEs and A levels and they are very worried about when they might be able to fly to get home." |
| Karen Abbott, from Southampton, is stuck in Singapore with her husband and daughter, who has diabetes and is insulin-dependent. | Karen Abbott, from Southampton, is stuck in Singapore with her husband and daughter, who has diabetes and is insulin-dependent. |
| She said the family's medication stock is running out. | She said the family's medication stock is running out. |
| People concerned about the safety of stranded loves ones can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000 or visit the website at www.fco.gov.uk. | People concerned about the safety of stranded loves ones can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000 or visit the website at www.fco.gov.uk. |
| Stranded Britons are advised to contact the nearest British embassy for help. | Stranded Britons are advised to contact the nearest British embassy for help. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| • British Airways cancelled all long and short-haul flights in and out of the UK on Monday | |
| • TV presenter Dan Snow is using five rigid inflatable boats to help people stranded in France by carrying them from Calais to Dover throughout Sunday | |
| ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB Eruption site webcam Map of Icelandic Volcanoes: Global Volcanism Program Expert Analysis: Nordic Volcanological Center | |
| • The impact is likely to exceed the airspace shutdown after the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation | • The impact is likely to exceed the airspace shutdown after the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation |
| • The Prince of Wales and Foreign Secretary David Miliband cancelled their journey to the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski | |
| • P&O ferry crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao are fully booked until Wednesday, as are those from Hull to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam over the weekend | • P&O ferry crossings between Portsmouth and Bilbao are fully booked until Wednesday, as are those from Hull to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam over the weekend |
| Have you been affected by the volcanic ash cloud? Are you stranded because of the airspace restrictions? Are you in Iceland? You can send your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by the volcanic ash cloud? Are you stranded because of the airspace restrictions? Are you in Iceland? You can send your experiences using the form below: |
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