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EU moves to ease curbs on flights | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The EU has said it will reduce a no-fly zone imposed after much of Europe's airspace was closed because of the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland. | The EU has said it will reduce a no-fly zone imposed after much of Europe's airspace was closed because of the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland. |
Transport minsters said there would be a core no-fly zone, another zone open to all flights and a third "caution" zone, allowing some flights. | Transport minsters said there would be a core no-fly zone, another zone open to all flights and a third "caution" zone, allowing some flights. |
The move came as the UK, Germany, France and Belgium said they would begin to reopen airspace on Tuesday. | The move came as the UK, Germany, France and Belgium said they would begin to reopen airspace on Tuesday. |
Airline chiefs had lambasted officials over the flight ban. | Airline chiefs had lambasted officials over the flight ban. |
The airline industry says its losses have soared over $1bn (740m euros; £650m), since much of Europe's airspace was closed five days ago because of the spread of ash. | The airline industry says its losses have soared over $1bn (740m euros; £650m), since much of Europe's airspace was closed five days ago because of the spread of ash. |
BA chief executive Willie Walsh was the latest airline boss to call the flight bans unnecessary on Monday. | BA chief executive Willie Walsh was the latest airline boss to call the flight bans unnecessary on Monday. |
EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas: "We should see progressively more planes start to fly" | |
The restrictions were imposed amid fears the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano - could damage aircraft engines. | The restrictions were imposed amid fears the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano - could damage aircraft engines. |
Britain's air traffic control body said later on Monday that airspace in Scotland, parts of the north of England and Northern Ireland would reopen on Tuesday. | Britain's air traffic control body said later on Monday that airspace in Scotland, parts of the north of England and Northern Ireland would reopen on Tuesday. |
Lufthansa, meanwhile, was granted permission by the German aviation authority to run 50 flights to Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf airports from the Far East, Africa and the Americas. | Lufthansa, meanwhile, was granted permission by the German aviation authority to run 50 flights to Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf airports from the Far East, Africa and the Americas. |
France and Belgium said they would also begin reopening airspace on Tuesday. | France and Belgium said they would also begin reopening airspace on Tuesday. |
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 Toxic ash threatens Iceland cattle | 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 Toxic ash threatens Iceland cattle |
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) earlier lambasted European leaders for their inaction, calling the travel chaos a mess and an embarrassment. | 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." | 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. | Airspace closures were costing airlines $200m a day in lost revenue, he said. |
The European Transport Commissioner, Siim Kallas, said earlier there could be no compromise on safety. | The European Transport Commissioner, Siim Kallas, said earlier there could be no compromise on safety. |
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. |
The volcano erupted last Wednesday, for the second time in a month, although the amount of ash being produced is now said to have diminished significantly. | The volcano erupted last Wednesday, for the second time in a month, although the amount of ash being produced is now said to have diminished significantly. |
However, the shroud of fine mineral dust particles now stretches from the Arctic Circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south, and from Spain into Russia. | However, the shroud of fine mineral dust particles now stretches from the Arctic Circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south, and from Spain into Russia. |
Airspace has been closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries. | Airspace has been closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries. |
Several European airports have re-opened - including those in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary and Turkey, after authorities there decided there was no longer any risk from the ash cloud. | Several European airports have re-opened - including those in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary and Turkey, after authorities there decided there was no longer any risk from the ash cloud. |
But Italy's civil aviation authority has shut the country's northern airspace until Tuesday morning. | But Italy's civil aviation authority has shut the country's northern airspace until Tuesday morning. |
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. | 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 is also sending three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and Channel ports. | The UK is also sending three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and 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. | 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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