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Scots airports open after ash ban Volcanic ash disruption continues
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of Scottish air passengers are hoping to return home in the coming days after a six-day airspace shutdown because of volcanic ash. The volcanic ash cloud has continued to cause disruption to flights in parts of Scotland as stranded travellers begin arriving back home.
UK airports reopened on Tuesday night after safety tests showed plane engines could cope in areas of low density ash.UK airports reopened on Tuesday night after safety tests showed plane engines could cope in areas of low density ash.
But flights in and out of Shetland and Orkney have been suspended until Thursday because of ash density levels.
Passengers have been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.Passengers have been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.
Meanwhile, all flights in and out of Orkney and Shetland have been suspended due to the density of ash in the air. Loganair there would be no planes in and out of the Northern Isles until lunchtime on Thursday at the earliest.
Air traffic authorities said they were expecting levels of volcanic ash in the air above the Northern Isles to be above safe operating limits for aircraft between lunchtime and 1900 BST. Flights to the Western and Hebridean islands were also cancelled on Wednesday.
Flights to the Western and Hebridean islands have also been cancelled. An Aberdeen airport spokeswoman said: "We have had to stop a handful of flights but the bulk of our services are operating normally.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said safety tests showed that jet engines can cope in areas of low density ash. "The latest movement of cloud has also impacted upon some Norwegian airspace, which could affect flights to Bergen and Stavanger.
"Passengers are again being advised to check with their airline before travelling."
As these airports return to normal operations, it is imperative that passengers contact their airline before travelling to the airport BAA spokesman Tall ship rescues stranded group Bereaved boy beats ash flight ban Sick girl flies home for surgeryAs these airports return to normal operations, it is imperative that passengers contact their airline before travelling to the airport BAA spokesman Tall ship rescues stranded group Bereaved boy beats ash flight ban Sick girl flies home for surgery
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said safety tests showed that jet engines can cope in areas of low density ash.
UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that all airports could reopen following discussions with the CAA, but he said some restrictions would remain in place.UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that all airports could reopen following discussions with the CAA, but he said some restrictions would remain in place.
Scottish airspace reopened on Tuesday morning, but Glasgow airspace closed again for six hours as the cloud moved. Among those finally making their way home was Patrick Carrs, 69, from Glasgow, who arrived at Manchester Airport.
Thousands of passengers remain stranded as a result of the ban which has been in place for most of the country since Thursday. He said he and his wife Helen had endured a "horrendous" journey back from Toronto, Canada.
A BAA spokesman said: "As these airports return to normal operations, it is imperative that passengers contact their airline before travelling to the airport. "It was five days in a hotel until we got the plane yesterday," he said.
"We have spent a lot of money we were not expecting to spend.
"We have had no help from anyone and we were left on our own."
Thousands of others remain stranded as a result of the ban, which had been in place for most of the country since Thursday.
A BAA spokesman advised passengers to contact their airline before travelling to an airport as they returned to normal operations.
One of the key lessons of this episode is that we must have the same empirical evidence about conditions in the air as we have on the ground First Minister Alex Salmond Helicopters report ash problems Call for ferry rescue plan review Balloon aids ash cloud analysisOne of the key lessons of this episode is that we must have the same empirical evidence about conditions in the air as we have on the ground First Minister Alex Salmond Helicopters report ash problems Call for ferry rescue plan review Balloon aids ash cloud analysis
"Not all flights will operate during the early period of opening, and we will do everything we can to support airlines and get people moving." "Not all flights will operate during the early period of opening, and we will do everything we can to support airlines and get people moving," he said.
Network Rail said engineering work planned for this weekend on the main London to Scotland routes - the East Coast and the West Coast main lines - had been cancelled so more trains could run.
Air traffic control company Nats denied it faced government pressure to ease flight restrictions following the spread of the volcanic ash cloud.Air traffic control company Nats denied it faced government pressure to ease flight restrictions following the spread of the volcanic ash cloud.
A CAA spokesman said Nats was acting on guidelines that prohibited flights through any type of volcanic ash cloud when it imposed the restrictions last week.A CAA spokesman said Nats was acting on guidelines that prohibited flights through any type of volcanic ash cloud when it imposed the restrictions last week.
CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said manufacturers had established a threshold of ash concentration above which it was not safe to fly, but below which planes could operate normally.CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said manufacturers had established a threshold of ash concentration above which it was not safe to fly, but below which planes could operate normally.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "One of the key lessons of this episode is that we must have the same empirical evidence about conditions in the air as we have on the ground upon which to base safe and intelligent decisions, given the extraordinary scale of the economic dislocation and inconvenience we have experienced."First Minister Alex Salmond said: "One of the key lessons of this episode is that we must have the same empirical evidence about conditions in the air as we have on the ground upon which to base safe and intelligent decisions, given the extraordinary scale of the economic dislocation and inconvenience we have experienced."
A ferry which normally runs across the Pentland Firth is being used to bring hundreds of people back from Norway to Scotland.A ferry which normally runs across the Pentland Firth is being used to bring hundreds of people back from Norway to Scotland.
The Northlink vessel was sent from Orkney to Bergen to pick up the passengers and bring them back to Aberdeen.The Northlink vessel was sent from Orkney to Bergen to pick up the passengers and bring them back to Aberdeen.
The BBC spoke to passengers coming off the ferry at RosythThe BBC spoke to passengers coming off the ferry at Rosyth
Three Thomas Cook aircraft arrived into Glasgow Airport overnight from Heraklion in Greece, Arrecife in Lanzarote, and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.Three Thomas Cook aircraft arrived into Glasgow Airport overnight from Heraklion in Greece, Arrecife in Lanzarote, and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.
On Tuesday, Scotland's mainland airports had flights to and from the Scottish islands, Iceland, the Faroes, the Isle of Man, Belfast, Durham Tees and Newcastle.On Tuesday, Scotland's mainland airports had flights to and from the Scottish islands, Iceland, the Faroes, the Isle of Man, Belfast, Durham Tees and Newcastle.
Spare capacity on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge service has been used by passengers stranded on mainland Europe by cancelled flights.Spare capacity on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge service has been used by passengers stranded on mainland Europe by cancelled flights.
A helpline for passengers stranded due to the volcanic ash cloud and concerned relatives has been launched by the Scottish government.A helpline for passengers stranded due to the volcanic ash cloud and concerned relatives has been launched by the Scottish government.
It is designed to complement the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) helpline which will remain the main point of contact for travellers needing help while stranded overseas.It is designed to complement the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) helpline which will remain the main point of contact for travellers needing help while stranded overseas.
The helpline offers "general advice that may be helpful to stranded travellers and their families", including contact details for airlines and travel operators and the latest information issued by travel operators.The helpline offers "general advice that may be helpful to stranded travellers and their families", including contact details for airlines and travel operators and the latest information issued by travel operators.
The Scottish government helpline number is 0800 027 0504 or from overseas +44 800 027 0504. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office 24-hour consular helpline has been set up on 020 7008 0000 for people stuck abroad.The Scottish government helpline number is 0800 027 0504 or from overseas +44 800 027 0504. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office 24-hour consular helpline has been set up on 020 7008 0000 for people stuck abroad.