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Cardiff Airport closure extended | Cardiff Airport closure extended |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Flight to and from Cardiff Airport will be grounded until at least 1900 BST, the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) has said. | Flight to and from Cardiff Airport will be grounded until at least 1900 BST, the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) has said. |
It said that airports south of Newcastle will be subject to the new airspace restrictions brought about by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. | It said that airports south of Newcastle will be subject to the new airspace restrictions brought about by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. |
Cardiff Airport had hoped to see six flights on Tuesday but five of those have been hit by the new restriction. | Cardiff Airport had hoped to see six flights on Tuesday but five of those have been hit by the new restriction. |
Many flights on Tuesday are cancelled regardless of when the airport reopens. | Many flights on Tuesday are cancelled regardless of when the airport reopens. |
Manchester Airport had planned to open at 0900 BST but that has now been put back until 1900 BST at the earliest. | Manchester Airport had planned to open at 0900 BST but that has now been put back until 1900 BST at the earliest. |
Meanwhile, Cardiff Airport managers are meeting airline and tourism chiefs to draw up plans for when flights could resume. | Meanwhile, Cardiff Airport managers are meeting airline and tourism chiefs to draw up plans for when flights could resume. |
One issue will be deciding on priorities, as to whether to concentrate on repatriating stranded passengers or to carry on normal schedules. | One issue will be deciding on priorities, as to whether to concentrate on repatriating stranded passengers or to carry on normal schedules. |
Cardiff Airport said all outbound flights operated by Flybe, Eastern Airways, Thomas Cook and Thomson have been cancelled on Tuesday regardless of whether airspace is opened later in the day. | Cardiff Airport said all outbound flights operated by Flybe, Eastern Airways, Thomas Cook and Thomson have been cancelled on Tuesday regardless of whether airspace is opened later in the day. |
The airport was waiting to hear about outbound flights from other airlines, including BMI Baby, KLM and Aer Lingus. | The airport was waiting to hear about outbound flights from other airlines, including BMI Baby, KLM and Aer Lingus. |
Airport bosses had hoped to see five flights scheduled between 1335 BST and 1845 BST before the new Nats restriction was brought in. | Airport bosses had hoped to see five flights scheduled between 1335 BST and 1845 BST before the new Nats restriction was brought in. |
A 2045 BST flight to Dublin was the sixth departure highlighted but airport bosses have stressed all the flights were subject to change. | |
Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines or tour operators. | Passengers are being advised to contact their airlines or tour operators. |
Thousands of flights in the UK and across Europe have been grounded since Thursday after the volcano erupted last Wednesday. | |
'Real impact' | 'Real impact' |
However, it is understood that two transatlantic flights from Germany have been routed through Welsh airspace. | |
The Lufthansa Airbus passengers jets, one destined for Atlanta, the other for Montreal, were en route for Irish airspace before heading out over the Atlantic. | |
The CBI in Wales has warned continued restrictions would have a "real impact" for many businesses. | |
Director David Rosser said: "To date I think its been mainly inconvenience with individuals stuck away from home and away from the office. | |
"As the time moves on it will become a real business impact as we start to see components running out, orders incapable of being shipped, and then it will start to rack up the costs for Welsh business." | "As the time moves on it will become a real business impact as we start to see components running out, orders incapable of being shipped, and then it will start to rack up the costs for Welsh business." |
The airport said people should check with airlines about flights | The airport said people should check with airlines about flights |
Ferry operators in Wales have seen significant increases in passenger numbers since the air travel disruption began. | |
Stena Line said it had carried 55,000 passengers on its five Irish Sea routes since last Thursday, 30,000 more than it would expect at this time of year. | |
Fastnet Line, which operates between Cork in Ireland and Swansea, has put on extra sailings. | |
Arriva Trains Wales said it had added 10,000 seats to its services to the Welsh ferry ports. | |
Ferris Coaches, which operate out of Nantgarw, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, sent four double-decker buses to Spain on Monday to collect people in resorts there, with the first due back later. | |
The company said they sold 300 seats in four hours on Sunday and had a waiting list of 200 people. | The company said they sold 300 seats in four hours on Sunday and had a waiting list of 200 people. |
"The problem I've got is getting drivers. It's on our peak season so driver availability isn't great," said Jason Ferris. | "The problem I've got is getting drivers. It's on our peak season so driver availability isn't great," said Jason Ferris. |
"We're calling up part time drivers and have some based in the south of France. | "We're calling up part time drivers and have some based in the south of France. |
"But I had so many calls yesterday if I had 100 coaches I could have filled them. I've never known anything like it, it's unbelievable." | "But I had so many calls yesterday if I had 100 coaches I could have filled them. I've never known anything like it, it's unbelievable." |
The company is dropping people off in Reading, Swindon and Bristol en route to Cardiff. | The company is dropping people off in Reading, Swindon and Bristol en route to Cardiff. |