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Europe starts to resume flights Europe starts to resume flights
(10 minutes later)
A small number of flights have taken off from northern Europe after five days of inactivity caused by the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland. A small number of flights have taken off in northern Europe after five days of inactivity caused by the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland.
Planes have been taking off from Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt - though many flights are cancelled.Planes have been taking off from Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt - though many flights are cancelled.
There are hopes that many routes within Europe will be able to resume operations on Tuesday.There are hopes that many routes within Europe will be able to resume operations on Tuesday.
But UK air traffic officials said a new ash cloud spreading from Iceland cast doubt on plans to reopen UK airspace.But UK air traffic officials said a new ash cloud spreading from Iceland cast doubt on plans to reopen UK airspace.
EUROPEAN AIRSPACE 0900 BELGIUM - Airspace open: Some planes landing, flights to depart from 1200 GMTUK - Airspace open over Scotland. Limited airspace over north of England. London airports remain closedFRANCE - Plans to re-open airports progressively on TuesdayGERMANY - Airspace closed, with some exceptions, until at 1200 GMT on Tuesday. Lufthansa planning to operate 200 flightsIRELAND - Airspace closed until 1200 GMT on TuesdayITALY - Airspace openNETHERLANDS - Airspace open. Passenger flights arriving and departing in AmsterdamSPAIN - Airspace open; 17 airports operatingSWEDEN - Airspace openSWITZERLAND - Airspace openDENMARK - Airspace closedNORWAY - Airspace closedPOLAND - Airspace closedEUROPEAN AIRSPACE 0900 BELGIUM - Airspace open: Some planes landing, flights to depart from 1200 GMTUK - Airspace open over Scotland. Limited airspace over north of England. London airports remain closedFRANCE - Plans to re-open airports progressively on TuesdayGERMANY - Airspace closed, with some exceptions, until at 1200 GMT on Tuesday. Lufthansa planning to operate 200 flightsIRELAND - Airspace closed until 1200 GMT on TuesdayITALY - Airspace openNETHERLANDS - Airspace open. Passenger flights arriving and departing in AmsterdamSPAIN - Airspace open; 17 airports operatingSWEDEN - Airspace openSWITZERLAND - Airspace openDENMARK - Airspace closedNORWAY - Airspace closedPOLAND - Airspace closed
Scottish airspace has re-opened and the first flights have taken off. There is limited airspace over the north of England and the main airports in London remain closed. Scottish airspace has re-opened and the first flights have taken off. There is limited airspace over the north of England but the main airports in London remain closed.
British Airways says it has cancelled all short-haul flights, after the UK air traffic control body, Nats, warned of more volcanic ash in the atmosphere.British Airways says it has cancelled all short-haul flights, after the UK air traffic control body, Nats, warned of more volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
A spokesman for Belfast airport in Northern Ireland said it hoped to resume flights at 1000 BST (0900 GMT) but will wait for the latest advice from Nats. A spokesman for Belfast airport in Northern Ireland said it hoped to resume flights at 1000 BST (0900 GMT) but would wait for the latest advice from Nats.
Three zonesThree zones
EU transport ministers proposed creating a core no-fly area, a limited-service zone and an open-skies area.EU transport ministers proposed creating a core no-fly area, a limited-service zone and an open-skies area.
The first flights left Amsterdam's Schipol airport late on Monday. Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings said his country was "taking a lead" in restarting flights, but warned that further suspensions might prove necessary if the situation worsens. The first flights left Amsterdam's Schipol airport late on Monday. Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings said his country was "taking a lead" in restarting flights, but warned that further suspensions might prove necessary if the situation worsened.
Swiss and northern Italian airspace has reopened, and limited flights are resuming out of the French capital.Swiss and northern Italian airspace has reopened, and limited flights are resuming out of the French capital.
The first commercial flight out of Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport has left for New York. Others are scheduled for San Francisco, Algiers and elsewhere.The first commercial flight out of Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport has left for New York. Others are scheduled for San Francisco, Algiers and elsewhere.
EXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Latest: Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Travel latestEXPERT ADVICE Latest health advice Latest: Air passenger rights Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Travel latest
However, the skies over Germany are due to remain closed until 1200 GMT, with some exceptions. The skies over Germany are due to remain closed until 1200 GMT, with some exceptions.
The German carrier, Lufthansa, says it is planning to around 200 flights on Tuesday, taking advantage of special permission to fly visually rather than relying on instruments and in keeping in constant touch with air traffic controllers. The German carrier, Lufthansa, says it is planning about 200 flights on Tuesday, taking advantage of special permission to fly visually rather than relying on instruments and keeping in constant touch with air traffic controllers.
The BBC's Nik Gowing, at Frankfurt airport, says flights have been arriving from America and elsewhere, and that passengers reported a normal service on board.The BBC's Nik Gowing, at Frankfurt airport, says flights have been arriving from America and elsewhere, and that passengers reported a normal service on board.
But he says that out of 100 flights scheduled in the next 12 hours, some 95 have already been cancelled and he says the situation remains very fluid.But he says that out of 100 flights scheduled in the next 12 hours, some 95 have already been cancelled and he says the situation remains very fluid.
In Madrid, our correspondent Sarah Rainsford says that passengers have been arriving on time for their flights but have had to queue for several hours at the information desk to find alternative transport if their flights have been cancelled. In Madrid, our correspondent Sarah Rainsford says passengers have been arriving on time for their flights but have had to queue for several hours at the information desk to find alternative transport if their flights have been cancelled.
She says that on Monday dozens of coaches were laid on, taking people to Paris, Brussels, and Geneva - and this will be the case again on Tuesday if European airspace does not open up as expected.She says that on Monday dozens of coaches were laid on, taking people to Paris, Brussels, and Geneva - and this will be the case again on Tuesday if European airspace does not open up as expected.
The International Air Transport Association earlier labelled the chaos a mess and an embarrassment for Europe.The International Air Transport Association earlier labelled the chaos a mess and an embarrassment for Europe.
The body says its losses have soared over $1bn (£650m; 740m euros), since much of Europe's airspace was closed last week because of ash from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano. The body says its losses have soared to over $1bn (£650m; 740m euros), since much of Europe's airspace was closed last week because of ash from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano.
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Scene at volcano amid 'new phase'Scene at volcano amid 'new phase'
The European Union has admitted there were shortcomings in the way the decision to close parts of Europe's airspace was reached.The European Union has admitted there were shortcomings in the way the decision to close parts of Europe's airspace was reached.
An official with the EU Transport Commission, Helen Kearns, said there was loose coordination in the decision-making process and that, working with the same scientific information, different countries had reached different conclusions. An official with the EU Transport Commission, Helen Kearns, said there was loose co-ordination in the decision-making process and that, working with the same scientific information, different countries had reached different conclusions.
She said, however, that in the future when deciding whether planes should be grounded, there'd be no change in the policy of putting safety first. She said, however, that in the future when deciding whether planes should be grounded, there would be no change in the policy of putting safety first.
Warships deployedWarships deployed
Experts had earlier said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash.Experts had earlier said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash.
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 Flight doubts after new ash cloudIt'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 Flight doubts after new ash cloud
A US official said on Monday a Nato F-16 fighter jet had suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud.A US official said on Monday a Nato F-16 fighter jet had suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud.
In the high temperatures of an engine turbine, ash can turn to molten glass and cripple the engine.In the high temperatures of an engine turbine, ash can turn to molten glass and cripple the engine.
Meanwhile, the UK deployed three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and the Channel ports.Meanwhile, the UK 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.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 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.
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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