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EU moves to ease curbs on flights EU moves to ease curbs on flights
(about 1 hour later)
The EU has moved to ease air travel curbs imposed after much of Europe's airspace was closed because of the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland. The EU has moved to ease air travel curbs imposed after much of Europe's airspace was shut because of the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland.
Transport ministers said there would be a core no-fly area, another open to all flights and a third zone available for a limited service. Transport ministers said there would be a core no-fly area, an open-skies area and a third limited-service zone.
The move came as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium said they would begin to reopen airspace. The news came as countries across Europe - including the UK, Germany and France - prepared to reopen airspace.
Airline chiefs had lambasted officials over the flight ban. The International Air Transport Association earlier labelled the chaos a mess and an embarrassment for Europe.
Following talks with the bloc's 27 transport ministers by video conference, EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas told reporters in Brussels more planes would start flying from Tuesday. The body says its losses have soared over $1bn (£650m; 740m euros), since much of Europe's airspace was closed five days ago because of ash from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano.
EU transport commission spokeswoman Helen Kearns told the BBC they hoped to see a 10% or 15% increase in flights on Tuesday and another 10% increase on Wednesday. 'No compromise'
"There will be a slow and progressive opening up of the European airspace," she said. Following talks with the EU's 27 transport ministers by video conference, Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas told reporters in Brussels more planes should start flying from Tuesday.
"It has been done based on the science and based on the principle that there can be no compromise on safety."
The airline industry says its losses have soared over $1bn (£650m; 740m euros), since much of Europe's airspace was closed five days ago because of ash from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano.
British Airways was the latest airline to call the flight bans unnecessary.
EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas: "We should see... more planes start to fly"EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas: "We should see... more planes start to fly"
However, a Nato F-16 fighter jet suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud, said one US official earlier. He added: "There cannot be any compromise on safety. All the decisions must be based on scientific evidence and expert analysis."
In the high temperatures of an engine turbine, ash can turn to molten glass and paralyse the engine. British Airways was the latest airline to call the flight bans unnecessary.
But experts said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash. But a Nato F-16 fighter jet suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud, a US official said earlier.
In the high temperatures of an engine turbine, ash can turn to molten glass and cripple the engine.
However, experts said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash.
Warships deployed
Britain's air traffic control body said airspace in Scotland, parts of the north of England and Northern Ireland would reopen on Tuesday.Britain's air traffic control body said airspace in Scotland, parts of the north of England and Northern Ireland would reopen on Tuesday.
It's this shared experience of facing a common challenge that I'll remember - my faith in human kindness is renewed Mark BokenfohrCanadian oil worker Getting home: Your stories Airspace in northern UK to reopen
It said London's airports - including Heathrow - might reopen later that day.
The UK earlier deployed three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and the Channel ports.
In Spain, where all airports were open, the government offered to let Britain and other European countries use its airports as stopovers to get passengers moving again.
The two main German airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, were granted exemptions from the flight ban to fly home thousands of stranded passengers.The two main German airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, were granted exemptions from the flight ban to fly home thousands of stranded passengers.
France said it would reopen Lyon airport later on Monday, before opening air corridors for flights between Paris and southern French cities, and eventually all its other airports. France said it was reopening air corridors for flights between Paris and southern French cities, and eventually all its other airports.
Some passenger flights will be allowed to leave Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam from Monday night, said the Dutch transport minister.
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 Getting home: Your stories Airspace in northern UK to reopen
Belgium said it would begin reopening the country's airspace from Tuesday morning.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) earlier lambasted European leaders for their inaction, calling the travel chaos a mess and an embarrassment.
Iata chief Giovanni Bisignani said: "The decision that Europe has made is with no risk assessment, no consultation, no co-ordination, no leadership."
Airspace closures were costing airlines $200m a day in lost revenue, he said.
'No timer''No timer'
Some passenger flights will be allowed to leave Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam from Monday night, said the Dutch transport minister.
Airspace in Belgium, Italy and Denmark is also due to begin opening from Tuesday morning.
But Finland shut its airports again until Tuesday afternoon.
Kenyan fresh flowers and vegetables in danger of perishing
Airports have already reopened in Austria, Estonia, Hungary and Turkey.
European airlines have asked the EU and national governments for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.European airlines have asked the EU and national governments for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.
EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the bloc's economy would suffer badly if the disruption continued for a long time.EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the bloc's economy would suffer badly if the disruption continued for a long time.
Kenyan fresh flowers and vegetables in danger of perishing
"What makes me a little bit afraid is that there is no timer on this volcano," he told news agency Reuters."What makes me a little bit afraid is that there is no timer on this volcano," he told news agency Reuters.
The shroud of fine mineral dust particles from the volcano has spread from the Arctic Circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south, and from Spain into Russia.The shroud of fine mineral dust particles from the volcano has spread from the Arctic Circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south, and from Spain into Russia.
Airspace was closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries.
Italy's civil aviation authority shut the country's northern airspace until Tuesday morning.
But airports have reopened in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary and Turkey, after authorities there decided there was no longer any risk.
In Spain, where all airports were open, the government offered to let Britain and other European countries use its airports as stopovers to get passengers moving again.
The UK earlier deployed three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and the Channel ports.
The French railway company SNCF has said it will offer reduced fares and 80,000 extra seats between Paris and London this week.
Have you been affected by the volcanic eruption in Iceland or by disruptions to air traffic caused by volcanic ash? Send us details of 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 details of your experiences using the form below.
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