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| Airlines urge flight ban review | Airlines urge flight ban review |
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| Europe's airlines and airports have called for an immediate reassessment of flight restrictions imposed because of volcanic ash from Iceland. | Europe's airlines and airports have called for an immediate reassessment of flight restrictions imposed because of volcanic ash from Iceland. |
| Two bodies that represent most of Europe's airlines and airports say they question the extent of the flight restrictions currently imposed. | Two bodies that represent most of Europe's airlines and airports say they question the extent of the flight restrictions currently imposed. |
| Airlines that have carried out test flights say planes showed no obvious damage after flying through the ash. | |
| Millions of travellers have been hit by four days of air travel disruption. | Millions of travellers have been hit by four days of air travel disruption. |
| The disruption is said to be greater than the shutdown that followed the 9/11 attacks. | The disruption is said to be greater than the shutdown that followed the 9/11 attacks. |
| About 20 European countries have closed their airspace and some have extended flight bans into Monday. | About 20 European countries have closed their airspace and some have extended flight bans into Monday. |
| COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (limited flights in north) Flights operating: Greece, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain Live updates on cloud In pictures: Flight disruption Economic impact of closures | COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (limited flights in north) Flights operating: Greece, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain Live updates on cloud In pictures: Flight disruption Economic impact of closures |
| The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. Airlines are estimated to be losing some £130m ($200m) a day. | The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. Airlines are estimated to be losing some £130m ($200m) a day. |
| The two airline bodies, ACI Europe and AEA, said: "The eruption of the Icelandic volcano is not an unprecedented event and the procedures applied in other parts of the world for volcanic eruptions do not appear to require the kind of restrictions that are presently being imposed in Europe." | |
| Dutch carrier KLM said it had flown a Boeing 737-800 up to the usual maximum altitude of 13km (8 miles) on Saturday. | Dutch carrier KLM said it had flown a Boeing 737-800 up to the usual maximum altitude of 13km (8 miles) on Saturday. |
| KLM chief executive Peter Hartman, who was on board, said there was "nothing unusual" about the flight. | KLM chief executive Peter Hartman, who was on board, said there was "nothing unusual" about the flight. |
| "If the technical examination confirms this... we then hope to get permission as soon as possible to partially restart our operations," he added. | "If the technical examination confirms this... we then hope to get permission as soon as possible to partially restart our operations," he added. |
| Steven Verhagen, vice-president of the Dutch Airline Pilots Association, told the Associated Press news agency: "In our opinion there is absolutely no reason to worry about resuming flights." | Steven Verhagen, vice-president of the Dutch Airline Pilots Association, told the Associated Press news agency: "In our opinion there is absolutely no reason to worry about resuming flights." |
| Germany's two biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, also said they had carried out test flights without apparent damage, as did Air France. | Germany's two biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, also said they had carried out test flights without apparent damage, as did Air France. |
| Air Berlin spokeswoman Diana Daedelow told the BBC: "It is astonishing that these findings... have seemingly been ignored in the decision-making process of the aviation safety authorities." | Air Berlin spokeswoman Diana Daedelow told the BBC: "It is astonishing that these findings... have seemingly been ignored in the decision-making process of the aviation safety authorities." |
| Worsening disruption | |
| UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, said "urgent discussions" were taking place between European and international agencies to ease the chaos. | UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, said "urgent discussions" were taking place between European and international agencies to ease the chaos. |
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| Day turns to night as the dense ash cloud leaves Eyjafjallajokull in the dark | Day turns to night as the dense ash cloud leaves Eyjafjallajokull in the dark |
| "We want to be able to resume flights as soon as possible, but safety remains my paramount concern," he said. | "We want to be able to resume flights as soon as possible, but safety remains my paramount concern," he said. |
| Weather experts say wind patterns mean the cloud is not likely to move far until later in the week. | |
| Brian Flynn, head of operations at Eurocontrol - which co-ordinates air traffic control in 38 nations - said aviation authorities were dealing with an "unknown phenomenon", but dismissed suggestions they were being over-cautious. | Brian Flynn, head of operations at Eurocontrol - which co-ordinates air traffic control in 38 nations - said aviation authorities were dealing with an "unknown phenomenon", but dismissed suggestions they were being over-cautious. |
| "Any risk of an aircraft penetrating an area that could have volcanic ash in it could have extreme safety consequences. And with the over-riding objective of protecting the travelling public, these exceptional measures have to be taken." | "Any risk of an aircraft penetrating an area that could have volcanic ash in it could have extreme safety consequences. And with the over-riding objective of protecting the travelling public, these exceptional measures have to be taken." |
| I've only got enough medication for my epilepsy to last me until tomorrow, so my seizures are likely to start again unless I get access to that George Craib, Amsterdam Volcano ash: Your stories | I've only got enough medication for my epilepsy to last me until tomorrow, so my seizures are likely to start again unless I get access to that George Craib, Amsterdam Volcano ash: Your stories |
| Meanwhile travel disruption worsened on Sunday. Eurocontrol said only 4,000 flights were expected in European airspace, against 24,000 normally. | Meanwhile travel disruption worsened on Sunday. Eurocontrol said only 4,000 flights were expected in European airspace, against 24,000 normally. |
| On Saturday there were 5,000 flights. All but 55 of 337 scheduled flights by US carriers to and from Europe were also cancelled. | On Saturday there were 5,000 flights. All but 55 of 337 scheduled flights by US carriers to and from Europe were also cancelled. |
| BBC business editor Robert Peston said the disruption risked becoming a "major business and economic disaster" with several European airlines already facing financial difficulties. | BBC business editor Robert Peston said the disruption risked becoming a "major business and economic disaster" with several European airlines already facing financial difficulties. |
| Polish funeral | Polish funeral |
| Since Thursday, countries across northern and central Europe have either closed airspace or shut key airports. | Since Thursday, countries across northern and central Europe have either closed airspace or shut key airports. |
| Iceland volcano in maps Volcanic ash: Your travel stories How long will ash last? | Iceland volcano in maps Volcanic ash: Your travel stories How long will ash last? |
| Britain has extended a ban on most flights in its airspace until at least 0700 local time on Monday (0600 GMT). | Britain has extended a ban on most flights in its airspace until at least 0700 local time on Monday (0600 GMT). |
| Ireland is closing its airspace until 1200 GMT on Monday. | Ireland is closing its airspace until 1200 GMT on Monday. |
| However airports in northern Spain - including Barcelona - have reopened, officials say. | However airports in northern Spain - including Barcelona - have reopened, officials say. |
| Ukraine opened Kiev airport, which has been closed since Saturday. | Ukraine opened Kiev airport, which has been closed since Saturday. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich left for Krakow to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, a presidential spokesman said. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich left for Krakow to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, a presidential spokesman said. |
| Many world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, were unable to attend the funeral of Mr Kaczynski, who was killed in a plane crash last week, because of the travel restrictions. | Many world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, were unable to attend the funeral of Mr Kaczynski, who was killed in a plane crash last week, because of the travel restrictions. |
| Commuters across northern Europe have sought other means of transport, packing out trains, buses and ferries. | Commuters across northern Europe have sought other means of transport, packing out trains, buses and ferries. |
| Southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month on Wednesday, sending a plume of ash 8.5km (5.3 miles) high into the air. | Southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month on Wednesday, sending a plume of ash 8.5km (5.3 miles) high into the air. |
| Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 if you are in the UK or+44 7725 100 100 if you are abroad. If you have a large file you can upload it here. | Send your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 if you are in the UK or+44 7725 100 100 if you are abroad. If you have a large file you can upload it here. |
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