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| Version 20 | Version 21 |
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| Big task for airlines as ban ends | Big task for airlines as ban ends |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Airlines and passengers face a slow return to normality as flights resume after a six-day shutdown because of volcanic ash from Iceland. | Airlines and passengers face a slow return to normality as flights resume after a six-day shutdown because of volcanic ash from Iceland. |
| Tens of thousands of Britons are still stranded abroad and it could take weeks to get back to business as usual. | Tens of thousands of Britons are still stranded abroad and it could take weeks to get back to business as usual. |
| Further delays and cancellations are occurring because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place. | Further delays and cancellations are occurring because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place. |
| Aviation officials lifted the airspace ban on Tuesday night, saying it was now safe for planes to fly. | Aviation officials lifted the airspace ban on Tuesday night, saying it was now safe for planes to fly. |
KEY POINTS
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| For the first time in almost a week, there have been scenes of joy at UK airports with passengers finally arriving home. | For the first time in almost a week, there have been scenes of joy at UK airports with passengers finally arriving home. |
| But the departures and arrivals boards at many airports remain full of cancellations. | But the departures and arrivals boards at many airports remain full of cancellations. |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis admitted to the BBC that the government had been "too cautious" but said the regulators needed to have time to test the impact of the ash. | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis admitted to the BBC that the government had been "too cautious" but said the regulators needed to have time to test the impact of the ash. |
| Officials from Airline Co-ordination Limited said 90% of Heathrow flights were set to resume as normal after 1500 BST. Service should be at 100% by Thursday. | Officials from Airline Co-ordination Limited said 90% of Heathrow flights were set to resume as normal after 1500 BST. Service should be at 100% by Thursday. |
| However, that figure includes only regularly scheduled flights, not efforts to clear up the backlog of passengers. | However, that figure includes only regularly scheduled flights, not efforts to clear up the backlog of passengers. |
| Peter Long, the chief executive of TUI Travel, said that the government's response to the situation had been "a shambles" and it had "underestimated" the consequences of the shutdown. | Peter Long, the chief executive of TUI Travel, said that the government's response to the situation had been "a shambles" and it had "underestimated" the consequences of the shutdown. |
| WEDNESDAY'S FLIGHTS BA: All long haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick; some short haul cancellations Virgin Atlantic: Normal schedule from Heathrow and Gatwick; Passengers booked on 15 April overseas departures also due to return to UK Thomson: Outbound flights cancelled Easyjet: Intends to operate 90% of flights Ryanair: No Northern European flights until 1300 BST on Thursday; No UK-Ireland flights until 1300 BST on Friday Flybe: Flights from 1300 BST but cancellations expected; 18 morning flights re-scheduled to leave after 1300 BST *Passengers are advised to contact their airline before travelling to an airport for a flight | WEDNESDAY'S FLIGHTS BA: All long haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick; some short haul cancellations Virgin Atlantic: Normal schedule from Heathrow and Gatwick; Passengers booked on 15 April overseas departures also due to return to UK Thomson: Outbound flights cancelled Easyjet: Intends to operate 90% of flights Ryanair: No Northern European flights until 1300 BST on Thursday; No UK-Ireland flights until 1300 BST on Friday Flybe: Flights from 1300 BST but cancellations expected; 18 morning flights re-scheduled to leave after 1300 BST *Passengers are advised to contact their airline before travelling to an airport for a flight |
| Steve Ridgway from Virgin Atlantic Airways said lessons had to be learned and compensation should be made available. | Steve Ridgway from Virgin Atlantic Airways said lessons had to be learned and compensation should be made available. |
| British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation. | British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation. |
| "I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home," he said. | "I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home," he said. |
| Aviation analyst John Strickland said budget airlines would have fewer planes in far-flung destinations and may recover more quickly. | Aviation analyst John Strickland said budget airlines would have fewer planes in far-flung destinations and may recover more quickly. |
| BAA chief operating officer Nick Cullen said the lack of passengers had led to losses of around £5m to £6m a day. | BAA chief operating officer Nick Cullen said the lack of passengers had led to losses of around £5m to £6m a day. |
| Mike Carrivick, chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives, said EU regulations legally obliging airlines to feed and accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled because of the disruption were "unfair". | Mike Carrivick, chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives, said EU regulations legally obliging airlines to feed and accommodate passengers whose flights were cancelled because of the disruption were "unfair". |
| He said they should not have been applicable to the mass flight cancellations. | He said they should not have been applicable to the mass flight cancellations. |
| Meanwhile Ryanair has said it will defy the regulations and warned customers it will only reimburse customers their airfare and no additional expenses. | Meanwhile Ryanair has said it will defy the regulations and warned customers it will only reimburse customers their airfare and no additional expenses. |
| More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past six days, with only a handful of flights taking off and landing at UK airports. | More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past six days, with only a handful of flights taking off and landing at UK airports. |
| Everyone felt that if the pilot was happy to fly then we were happy to get on David Jack Passenger Passengers relieved at UK return Ash aftermath: Making a complaint | Everyone felt that if the pilot was happy to fly then we were happy to get on David Jack Passenger Passengers relieved at UK return Ash aftermath: Making a complaint |
| The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on Thursday sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines. | The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on Thursday sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines. |
| Scientists say the volcano is still erupting but the ash plume is now shrinking, although it remains changeable. | Scientists say the volcano is still erupting but the ash plume is now shrinking, although it remains changeable. |
| Air traffic control body Nats said that a dense concentration of volcanic ash continued to remain in an area over north west Scotland and could extend further south into Scottish airspace. | Air traffic control body Nats said that a dense concentration of volcanic ash continued to remain in an area over north west Scotland and could extend further south into Scottish airspace. |
| The restrictions were lifted after the Civil Aviation Authority said safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas". | The restrictions were lifted after the Civil Aviation Authority said safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas". |
| ANALYSIS By Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent, BBC News | ANALYSIS By Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent, BBC News |
| The question the airline industry is asking is why did it take six days for the Civil Aviation Authority to change its policy, and what does it know now that it did not know a week ago. | The question the airline industry is asking is why did it take six days for the Civil Aviation Authority to change its policy, and what does it know now that it did not know a week ago. |
| Part of the problem faced by the regulator is that there is a limited evidence base with which to make an accurate risk assessment. | Part of the problem faced by the regulator is that there is a limited evidence base with which to make an accurate risk assessment. |
| Such occurrences are rare so the policy seems to have been one of safety first. | Such occurrences are rare so the policy seems to have been one of safety first. |
| But as the flight ban wore on, with increasing numbers of passengers stranded and the cost to the airline industry rising, the CAA was forced to reassess its policy. | But as the flight ban wore on, with increasing numbers of passengers stranded and the cost to the airline industry rising, the CAA was forced to reassess its policy. |
| It consulted extensively with jet engine manufacturers and gathered new evidence from test flights through the volcanic ash. | It consulted extensively with jet engine manufacturers and gathered new evidence from test flights through the volcanic ash. |
| This process led the regulator to conclude on Tuesday night that planes would not stall if they flew through low concentrations of the ash. | This process led the regulator to conclude on Tuesday night that planes would not stall if they flew through low concentrations of the ash. |
| It has set down new requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight. | It has set down new requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight. |
| The decision to close UK airspace and the government's response to the ensuing chaos has sparked a political row. | The decision to close UK airspace and the government's response to the ensuing chaos has sparked a political row. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended the time taken to reopen UK airspace, saying decisions had been based on "scientific advice". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended the time taken to reopen UK airspace, saying decisions had been based on "scientific advice". |
| "We would never be forgiven if we had let planes fly and there was a real danger to people's lives," he said. | "We would never be forgiven if we had let planes fly and there was a real danger to people's lives," he said. |
| Lord Adonis said the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights. He denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry. | Lord Adonis said the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights. He denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron called for a "rapid inquiry" into how the crisis was handled and said there had been "muddle and confusion" over the information people had been given. | Conservative leader David Cameron called for a "rapid inquiry" into how the crisis was handled and said there had been "muddle and confusion" over the information people had been given. |
| Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg said nobody could have predicted the conditions that caused the situation and that he believed the government "did what they could have done". | Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg said nobody could have predicted the conditions that caused the situation and that he believed the government "did what they could have done". |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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| Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national who is still stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit its website. | Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national who is still stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit its website. |
| Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate. | Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate. |
| Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Are you an airline staff member? Send us your comments. | Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Are you an airline staff member? Send us your comments. |
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