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| EU emergency talks on air chaos | EU emergency talks on air chaos |
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| EU transport ministers are to hold emergency talks by video conference on easing the volcanic ash cloud chaos paralysing air travel across Europe. | EU transport ministers are to hold emergency talks by video conference on easing the volcanic ash cloud chaos paralysing air travel across Europe. |
| Sixty-three thousand flights have been cancelled in four days, with millions of passengers stranded worldwide. | Sixty-three thousand flights have been cancelled in four days, with millions of passengers stranded worldwide. |
| EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said: "We cannot just wait until this ash cloud dissipates." | EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said: "We cannot just wait until this ash cloud dissipates." |
| Airports and airlines question the need for curbs said to be costing airlines alone $200m (£130m) a day. | |
| COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (most airports open)Bulgaria (Sofia and Plovdiv open)Poland (several airports, including Warsaw, open)Sweden (northern airports open)France (southern airports open) Flights operating: Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain Live updates on cloud In pictures: Europe grounded Economic impact of closures | COUNTRIES AFFECTED Airspace closed: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, UK Partial closures: Italy (northern airspace closed until Monday)Norway (most airports open)Bulgaria (Sofia and Plovdiv open)Poland (several airports, including Warsaw, open)Sweden (northern airports open)France (southern airports open) Flights operating: Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain Live updates on cloud In pictures: Europe grounded Economic impact of closures |
| Much of northern Europe remains a no-fly zone with airspace closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries. | Much of northern Europe remains a no-fly zone with airspace closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries. |
| And the prospect of a return to normal air travel remains far from clear. | And the prospect of a return to normal air travel remains far from clear. |
| The Spanish Minister for Europe, Diego Lopez Garrido, had said on Sunday that up to half of the flights across Europe could operate on Monday. | The Spanish Minister for Europe, Diego Lopez Garrido, had said on Sunday that up to half of the flights across Europe could operate on Monday. |
| He was speaking after talks with Eurocontrol, which co-ordinates air traffic control in 38 nations. It had recommended the current flight ban. | He was speaking after talks with Eurocontrol, which co-ordinates air traffic control in 38 nations. It had recommended the current flight ban. |
| But Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations for Eurocontrol, told the BBC that while half of the European landmass could be clear of ash cloud, that did not mean half of the flights could go ahead. | But Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations for Eurocontrol, told the BBC that while half of the European landmass could be clear of ash cloud, that did not mean half of the flights could go ahead. |
| The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. | The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. |
| In another development, hundreds of thousands of Kenyans working in agriculture, the country's largest export sector, face economic uncertainty because of the flight bans. | |
| Refrigerated stores at Nairobi airport and on farms are now completely full, and a huge amount of fresh flowers and vegetables destined for the European market in danger of perishing, the BBC's East Africa correspondent, Will Ross, reports. | |
| Ash still 'very worrying' | Ash still 'very worrying' |
| Siim Kallas said European authorities were working to find a solution that did not compromise safety. | Siim Kallas said European authorities were working to find a solution that did not compromise safety. |
| Stranded passengers give their views | Stranded passengers give their views |
| As several airlines questioned the curbs, some carried out test flights and reported planes showing no obvious damage after flying through the ash. | As several airlines questioned the curbs, some carried out test flights and reported planes showing no obvious damage after flying through the ash. |
| However, a scientific test flight over Britain concluded that the situation could still be dangerous. | However, a scientific test flight over Britain concluded that the situation could still be dangerous. |
| Dr Guy Gratton, who was part of the scientific team, said: "It's still quite a complex mixture of clear air and very worrying but invisible volcanic ash at all sorts of heights." | Dr Guy Gratton, who was part of the scientific team, said: "It's still quite a complex mixture of clear air and very worrying but invisible volcanic ash at all sorts of heights." |
| Weather experts say wind patterns mean the cloud is not likely to move far until later in the week. | Weather experts say wind patterns mean the cloud is not likely to move far until later in the week. |
| Eurocontrol said there were only 5,000 flights in European airspace on Sunday, against 24,000 normally. | Eurocontrol said there were only 5,000 flights in European airspace on Sunday, against 24,000 normally. |
| I've been stranded in Madrid since Thursday. We've been told we cannot get a flight until 26 April at the earliest. Christine Blanchard Volcano ash: Your stories | I've been stranded in Madrid since Thursday. We've been told we cannot get a flight until 26 April at the earliest. Christine Blanchard Volcano ash: Your stories |
| Britain has extended a ban on most flights in its airspace until at least 1900 local time on Monday (1800 GMT). | Britain has extended a ban on most flights in its airspace until at least 1900 local time on Monday (1800 GMT). |
| Our business editor Robert Peston understands that British Airways fears it may not be allowed to fly normal services until Thursday at the earliest. | Our business editor Robert Peston understands that British Airways fears it may not be allowed to fly normal services until Thursday at the earliest. |
| Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands are keeping their airspace closed until 1200 GMT on Monday. Spain has re-opened its airspace after a brief closure. Officials there have suggested its airports could be used as an entry platform into Europe. | Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands are keeping their airspace closed until 1200 GMT on Monday. Spain has re-opened its airspace after a brief closure. Officials there have suggested its airports could be used as an entry platform into Europe. |
| Iceland volcano in maps How long will ash last? Peston: Airlines to ask for help | Iceland volcano in maps How long will ash last? Peston: Airlines to ask for help |
| A proposal is that passengers from countries like Britain, who are stranded in the US or Asia, would fly into Spain and then continue their journey by train, boat or coach. | A proposal is that passengers from countries like Britain, who are stranded in the US or Asia, would fly into Spain and then continue their journey by train, boat or coach. |
| The idea could be discussed during the European transport ministers' video conference, hosted by Spain. | The idea could be discussed during the European transport ministers' video conference, hosted by Spain. |
| Southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month on Wednesday. | Southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano began erupting for the second time in a month on Wednesday. |
| Iceland's Meteorological Office said tremors from the volcano had grown more intense but the column of ash rising from it had eased to around 5km (3.1 miles). | Iceland's Meteorological Office said tremors from the volcano had grown more intense but the column of ash rising from it had eased to around 5km (3.1 miles). |
| 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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