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Flights resume as air ban eased Flights resume as air ban eased
(about 2 hours later)
Some flights have been arriving and taking off from Belfast International Airport after restrictions on UK airspace were eased.Some flights have been arriving and taking off from Belfast International Airport after restrictions on UK airspace were eased.
The first set of stranded NI holidaymakers arrived back from Lanzarote on a flight into Belfast late on Tuesday.The first set of stranded NI holidaymakers arrived back from Lanzarote on a flight into Belfast late on Tuesday.
Flights also began to take off from the airport early on Wednesday.Flights also began to take off from the airport early on Wednesday.
George Best Belfast City Airport said it expected some services to resume later.George Best Belfast City Airport said it expected some services to resume later.
At City of Derry airport Aer Arann flights on Wednesday morning have been cancelled, but the airline hopes the evening service to Dublin may operate.At City of Derry airport Aer Arann flights on Wednesday morning have been cancelled, but the airline hopes the evening service to Dublin may operate.
The airports are urging people to check with their airline before travelling as it is likely to take days before schedules are back to normal.
All Ryanair flights between the UK and Ireland have been cancelled until 1300 BST on Friday.All Ryanair flights between the UK and Ireland have been cancelled until 1300 BST on Friday.
An estimated 120,000 passengers have been affected by the closure of Northern Ireland airspace.An estimated 120,000 passengers have been affected by the closure of Northern Ireland airspace.
ANALYSIS By Pallab Ghosh, science correspondent, BBC NewsANALYSIS 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, and passengers faced a greater risk by remaining stranded for several days.This process led the regulator to conclude on Tuesday night that planes would not stall if they flew through low concentrations of the ash, and passengers faced a greater risk by remaining stranded for several days.
The Irish Aviation Authority said full services may take up to three days to recover from the disruption of the past six days, due to a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano. George Best Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose emphasised it would take time for services to return to normal.
George Best Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose said it would take time for services to return to normal.
"The London Heathrow services will resume at 1200 BST and then Flybe will be back up running a fairly full programme from 1300 BST onwards. Still waiting to get confirmation from Ryanair," he said."The London Heathrow services will resume at 1200 BST and then Flybe will be back up running a fairly full programme from 1300 BST onwards. Still waiting to get confirmation from Ryanair," he said.
"By this afternoon we should be back to the kind of numbers we're accustomed to at this time of the year and then we'll be starting to work our way through the backlog.""By this afternoon we should be back to the kind of numbers we're accustomed to at this time of the year and then we'll be starting to work our way through the backlog."
It is expected there will be limited flight operations from Dublin airport on Wednesday and Shannon airport has confirmed it will be open on Wednesday and Thursday.It is expected there will be limited flight operations from Dublin airport on Wednesday and Shannon airport has confirmed it will be open on Wednesday and Thursday.
Siobhan Moore from Dublin Airport said it would be a "phased return to business".Siobhan Moore from Dublin Airport said it would be a "phased return to business".
"Aer Lingus are planning to run a full schedule from lunchtime on Wednesday, that will include European and UK destinations. Ryanair are not planning to operate until Thursday to Europe and to the UK on Friday," she said."Aer Lingus are planning to run a full schedule from lunchtime on Wednesday, that will include European and UK destinations. Ryanair are not planning to operate until Thursday to Europe and to the UK on Friday," she said.
GradualGradual
"There will have to be a lot of repositioning of aircraft, so it is a big logistical challenge for the airlines to catch up on this.""There will have to be a lot of repositioning of aircraft, so it is a big logistical challenge for the airlines to catch up on this."
The UK's Civil Aviation Authority announced new guidelines on Tuesday evening saying there would be a gradual reintroduction of flights in UK airspace from 2200 BST.The UK's Civil Aviation Authority announced new guidelines on Tuesday evening saying there would be a gradual reintroduction of flights in UK airspace from 2200 BST.
A CAA spokeswoman said some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain. She said the decision had been taken after consultation with the Irish aviation authorities.A CAA spokeswoman said some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain. She said the decision had been taken after consultation with the Irish aviation authorities.
Transport minister Lord Adonis said after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.Transport minister Lord Adonis said after the ban was lifted it would be up to airlines to bring flight schedules back on track.
BAA, which operates many of the UK's airports, has said people should contact their airlines before travelling.
"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," a spokesman said.
Some restrictions will remain on flights in UK airspace, but they will be much less severe than before.Some restrictions will remain on flights in UK airspace, but they will be much less severe than before.
Thousands of passengers have been stranded with planes grounded across Europe as a result of the ash cloud.Thousands of passengers have been stranded with planes grounded across Europe as a result of the ash cloud.
More than 6.8m passengers have been affected so far and 63,000 flights have been cancelled since Thursday. More than 6.8m passengers have been affected so far and 95,000 flights have been cancelled since Thursday.
Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano system could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano system could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.