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UK airports set to reopen UK airports set to reopen
(10 minutes later)
All UK airports can reopen from 2200 BST on Tuesday, the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has said.All UK airports can reopen from 2200 BST on Tuesday, the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has said.
He added that after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.He added that after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.
The statement was delivered after consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority and a reassessment of the risk to aircraft from volcanic ash.The statement was delivered after consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority and a reassessment of the risk to aircraft from volcanic ash.
Some restrictions will remain in place, but they will be much smaller than those enforced under the current ban.Some restrictions will remain in place, but they will be much smaller than those enforced under the current ban.
Dame Deirdre Hutton, of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said there had been detailed consultation with experts to reassess the tolerance of planes to the ash cloud.Dame Deirdre Hutton, of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said there had been detailed consultation with experts to reassess the tolerance of planes to the ash cloud.
The CAA said it was a "situation without precedent" and that decisions had been made based on "thorough gathering of data and analysis".The CAA said it was a "situation without precedent" and that decisions had been made based on "thorough gathering of data and analysis".
'Increased tolerance'
"The major barrier to resuming flight has been understanding tolerance levels of aircraft to ash," the CAA said."The major barrier to resuming flight has been understanding tolerance levels of aircraft to ash," the CAA said.
"Manufacturers have now agreed increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas.""Manufacturers have now agreed increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas."
Land at Heathrow
Lord Adonis emphasised that safety remained paramount.Lord Adonis emphasised that safety remained paramount.
There will be plenty of time for a post mortem of what has happened Willie Walsh, British Airways
He said: "It is essential that we guarantee to the travelling public that the airlines are safe and that planes can safely fly."He said: "It is essential that we guarantee to the travelling public that the airlines are safe and that planes can safely fly."
The decision means that long-haul BA flights currently in the air will be able to land at London Heathrow.The decision means that long-haul BA flights currently in the air will be able to land at London Heathrow.
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said he was pleased that the UK airspace was due to open, but it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation.
"We're now at British Airways going to start the difficult task of getting our stranded customers back home but I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home."
He said "lessons can be learned" and added: "There will be plenty of time for a post mortem of what has happened over the last few days."
Flights have been grounded across the UK and much of Europe since Thursday following the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
The eruption sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
Despite the lifting of the ban, it will be some time before flights return to normal.Despite the lifting of the ban, it will be some time before flights return to normal.
An estimated 150,000 Britons have been stranded by the six-day shut down of UK airspace to commercial flights.

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