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EU moves to ease curbs on flights EU moves to ease curbs on flights
(20 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 moved to ease air travel curbs imposed after much of Europe's airspace was closed because of the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland.
Transport ministers said there would be a core no-fly zone, another zone open to all flights and a third "caution" zone, allowing some flights. 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.
The move came as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium said they would begin to reopen airspace.The move came as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium said they would begin to reopen airspace.
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 (£650m; 740m euros), since much of Europe's airspace was closed five days ago because of the spread of ash. 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 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.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh was the latest airline boss to call the flight bans unnecessary.BA chief executive Willie Walsh was the latest airline boss 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"
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. However, a Nato F-16 fighter jet suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud, said one US official earlier.
In the high temperatures of an engine turbine, ash can turn to molten glass and paralyse the engine.
But experts said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash.
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.
Lufthansa, meanwhile, was allowed by the German aviation authority to operate 50 long-haul flights to Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf. The two main German airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, were granted exemptions from the flight ban to allow them to bring 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 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.
Some passenger flights will be allowed to leave Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam from Monday night, said the Dutch transport minister.Some passenger flights will be allowed to leave Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam from Monday night, said the Dutch transport minister.
Belgium said it would begin reopening the country's air space on Tuesday morning.
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 reopenI'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.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 there could be no compromise on safety. 'No compromise'
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 experts said there was now much less ash being produced. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the bloc's economy would suffer badly if the disruption continued for a long time.
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. Kenyan fresh flowers and vegetables in danger of perishing
Airspace has been closed, or partially closed, in more than 20 countries. "What makes me a little bit afraid is that there is no timer on this volcano," he told news agency Reuters.
Several European airports have already reopened - including those in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary and Turkey, after authorities there decided there was no longer any risk from the ash cloud. But the EU's transport commissioner said there could be no compromise on safety.
But Italy's civil aviation authority has shut the country's northern airspace until Tuesday morning. 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.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 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.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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