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Europe starts to resume flights Limited flights resume in Europe
(40 minutes later)
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.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 departing from Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt - though many flights are cancelled.Planes have been departing 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 closed
The UK's air traffic control authority, Nats, says it is unlikely that the main airports in London will reopen on Tuesday, because of more ash in the atmosphere.The UK's air traffic control authority, Nats, says it is unlikely that the main airports in London will reopen on Tuesday, because of more ash in the atmosphere.
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 closed
Flights have taken off from Scotland and there is limited airspace over the north of England. British Airways says it has cancelled all short-haul flights.Flights have taken off from Scotland and there is limited airspace over the north of England. British Airways says it has cancelled all short-haul flights.
A Nats statement said the situation remained "dynamic" and that "the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable".A Nats statement said the situation remained "dynamic" and that "the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable".
Three zones
In an effort to take control of the situation, EU transport ministers created a core no-fly area, a limited-service zone and an open-skies area.In an effort to take control of the situation, EU transport ministers created 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 worsened. 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. The Swiss authorities said test flights had shown a considerable reduction in the amount of ash in the atmosphere and posed no threat to passenger safety.
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. 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.
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
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 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 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.
Nils Haupt of Lufthansa Cargo on 'special rules' for air travel
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.
Nils Haupt of Lufthansa Cargo on 'special rules' for air travel
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.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 EU Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, has rejected criticism that the EU took too long to respond to the crisis.
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Kallas said that all decisions were taken in accordance with existing and established rules.
Scene at volcano amid 'new phase'
He said the matter was not "in the hands of arbitrary decisions", but that the lives of people were at stake.
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 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.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.
Advertisement Experts say the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - has entered a new phase and is now producing more lava rather than ash and dust.
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.
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 would be no change in the policy of putting safety first.
Warships 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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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