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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Checks on ash cloud safety plane | Checks on ash cloud safety plane |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Checks are being carried out on a British Airways jet at its engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan after a test flight to Cardiff Airport. | Checks are being carried out on a British Airways jet at its engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan after a test flight to Cardiff Airport. |
| The BA 747 was taken from Heathrow to Cardiff via the Atlantic to see if it could safely fly, despite the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano. | The BA 747 was taken from Heathrow to Cardiff via the Atlantic to see if it could safely fly, despite the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano. |
| A BA spokesman said the aircraft encountered no difficulties. | A BA spokesman said the aircraft encountered no difficulties. |
| Meanwhile, Cardiff Airport is to remain shut until at least 0100 BST on Tuesday because of the ash. | Meanwhile, Cardiff Airport is to remain shut until at least 0100 BST on Tuesday because of the ash. |
| 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. |
| The BA test flight took off from London Heathrow Airport at 1755 BST on Sunday before flying 550 miles over the Atlantic Ocean and returning to Cardiff airport two and three-quarter hours later. | The BA test flight took off from London Heathrow Airport at 1755 BST on Sunday before flying 550 miles over the Atlantic Ocean and returning to Cardiff airport two and three-quarter hours later. |
| BA's chief executive Willie Walsh was on board along with the director of flight operations and the general manager of engineering. | BA's chief executive Willie Walsh was on board along with the director of flight operations and the general manager of engineering. |
| A volcano in southern Iceland"s Eyjafjallajokull is causing the ash cloud | A volcano in southern Iceland"s Eyjafjallajokull is causing the ash cloud |
| The plane is undergoing a full technical analysis at BA's engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan. | The plane is undergoing a full technical analysis at BA's engineering base in the Vale of Glamorgan. |
| Results of the checks are not expected until later in the day. | Results of the checks are not expected until later in the day. |
| Priorities | Priorities |
| A Cardiff Airport spokesman said managers there would be meeting airline and tourism chiefs to draw up plans for when flights started again. | A Cardiff Airport spokesman 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |