This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8629008.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| City airport could reopen Tuesday | City airport could reopen Tuesday |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Airspace restrictions could be lifted over Wales on Tuesday, leading to the reopening of Cardiff Airport, authorities have said. | |
| Airspace in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England should reopen on Tuesday from 0700 BST. | |
| The air traffic control body, Nats, said it would make further statements overnight on restrictions to airspace above the rest of England and Wales. | |
| It follows tests by airlines on their aircraft in restricted areas. | It follows tests by airlines on their aircraft in restricted areas. |
| A test flight of a British Airways jet to see if could fly safely despite the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano found it operated normally. | A test flight of a British Airways jet to see if could fly safely despite the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano found it operated normally. |
| The BA 747 flew 550 miles (885km) over the Atlantic from Heathrow before landing in Cardiff on Sunday. | The BA 747 flew 550 miles (885km) over the Atlantic from Heathrow before landing in Cardiff on Sunday. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "The current blanket restrictions on airspace are unnecessary." | BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "The current blanket restrictions on airspace are unnecessary." |
| BA said post-flight tests on the four-engine jet at the airline's engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan showed no deterioration in the engines or aircraft structure. | BA said post-flight tests on the four-engine jet at the airline's engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan showed no deterioration in the engines or aircraft structure. |
| The airline said a full survey of the plane was undertaken at Heathrow, with borescope - flexible camera - inspections of each engine as well as inspections of the wings, windows and engine inlets. | The airline said a full survey of the plane was undertaken at Heathrow, with borescope - flexible camera - inspections of each engine as well as inspections of the wings, windows and engine inlets. |
| A second inspection in Wales showed "no deterioration," BA said in a statement on Monday afternoon. | A second inspection in Wales showed "no deterioration," BA said in a statement on Monday afternoon. |
| The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in southern Iceland is causing the ash cloud | The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in southern Iceland is causing the ash cloud |
| Flights in the UK and across Europe have been grounded after an Icelandic volcano erupted last Wednesday. | Flights in the UK and across Europe have been grounded after an Icelandic volcano erupted last Wednesday. |
| A Cardiff Airport spokesman has said managers there would be meeting airline and tourism chiefs to draw up plans for when flights started again. | A Cardiff Airport spokesman has said managers there would be meeting airline and tourism chiefs to draw up plans for when flights started again. |
| One of the issues will be deciding on priorities, as to whether to concentrate on repatriating stranded passengers or carry on normal schedules. | One of the issues will be deciding on priorities, as to whether to concentrate on repatriating stranded passengers or carry on normal schedules. |
| The spokesman said airlines did not have many extra planes available. | The spokesman said airlines did not have many extra planes available. |
| Passengers on package holidays would be looked after by tour operators, effectively extending their holidays, but independent travellers would have more of a problem, he added. | Passengers on package holidays would be looked after by tour operators, effectively extending their holidays, but independent travellers would have more of a problem, he added. |
| Ferry operators in Wales have seen significant increases in passenger numbers since the National Air Traffic Service (Nats) halted all flights in the UK. | Ferry operators in Wales have seen significant increases in passenger numbers since the National Air Traffic Service (Nats) halted all flights in the UK. |
| Stena Line said that since the air travel crisis began last Thursday, it had carried 55,000 passengers on its five Irish Sea routes, 30,000 more than it would expect at this time of year. | Stena Line said that since the air travel crisis began last Thursday, it had carried 55,000 passengers on its five Irish Sea routes, 30,000 more than it would expect at this time of year. |
| Fastnet Line, which operates services between Cork in Ireland and Swansea, has put on extra sailings to cope with demand. | Fastnet Line, which operates services between Cork in Ireland and Swansea, has put on extra sailings to cope with demand. |
| "We're taking 400-500 bookings a day and normally we would be taking from 100 to 130 per day," said a spokesperson. | "We're taking 400-500 bookings a day and normally we would be taking from 100 to 130 per day," said a spokesperson. |
| Rail operators have added extra capacity to services to Holyhead in Anglesey and Fishguard in Pembrokeshire. | Rail operators have added extra capacity to services to Holyhead in Anglesey and Fishguard in Pembrokeshire. |
| Ferris Coaches, which operate out of Nantgarw in south Wales, are sending four double-decker buses to Spain on Monday to collect people in resorts there, and more will be despatched on Tuesday and Thursday. | Ferris Coaches, which operate out of Nantgarw in south Wales, are sending four double-decker buses to Spain on Monday to collect people in resorts there, and more will be despatched on Tuesday and Thursday. |
| 'Drivers' | 'Drivers' |
| The company's Jason Ferris said they sold 300 seats in four hours on Sunday and had a waiting list of 200 people. | The company's Jason Ferris said they sold 300 seats in four hours on Sunday and had a waiting list of 200 people. |
| "The problem I've got is getting drivers. It's on our peak season so driver availability isn't great," he said. | "The problem I've got is getting drivers. It's on our peak season so driver availability isn't great," he said. |
| "We're calling up part time drivers and have some based in the south of France. | "We're calling up part time drivers and have some based in the south of France. |
| "But I had so many calls yesterday if I had 100 coaches I could have filled them. I've never known anything like it, it's unbelievable." | "But I had so many calls yesterday if I had 100 coaches I could have filled them. I've never known anything like it, it's unbelievable." |
| The company is dropping people off in Reading, Swindon and Bristol en route to Cardiff. | The company is dropping people off in Reading, Swindon and Bristol en route to Cardiff. |
| The Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk) contains advice for stranded UK citizens. | The Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk) contains advice for stranded UK citizens. |
| UK citizens needing consular assistance can also contact the embassy in the country they are in. Contact details are available on the Foreign Office website. | UK citizens needing consular assistance can also contact the embassy in the country they are in. Contact details are available on the Foreign Office website. |
| An emergency number - 020 7008 0000 - is available for relatives of those stranded who are concerned about their safety or well-being. | An emergency number - 020 7008 0000 - is available for relatives of those stranded who are concerned about their safety or well-being. |