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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.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. Ryanair flights between the UK and Ireland will resume at 0500 BST on Friday.
The airline is warning there could be delays and cancellations on its routes as air traffic controllers and airports struggle to cope with the volume of flights in the coming days.
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.
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 emphasised 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," 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.
Risk assessmentsRisk assessments
"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 flight restrictions were introduced following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which sent a plume of ash into the atmosphere.The flight restrictions were introduced following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which sent a plume of ash into the atmosphere.
Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud 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 could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.
Live: Volcanic ash cloud UK airports reopen Volcano 'not in the big league' Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Have your say In pictures: Home at lastLive: Volcanic ash cloud UK airports reopen Volcano 'not in the big league' Q&A: Volcanic ash cloud Have your say In pictures: Home at last
On Tuesday night the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced new guidelines relating to planes flying in ash.On Tuesday night the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced new guidelines relating to planes flying in ash.
The CAA said safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas".The CAA said safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas".
It has set down requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight.It has set down requirements for airlines such as conducting risk assessments and inspecting aircraft for ash damage before and after each flight.
It added that some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain.It added that some no-fly-zones with a higher density of volcanic ash would remain.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis denied the UK authorities had been slow to get planes flying again, saying the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights.Transport Secretary Lord Adonis denied the UK authorities had been slow to get planes flying again, saying the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights.
But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said Labour's "misjudgement and mismanagement" had "badly let down" the travelling public.But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said Labour's "misjudgement and mismanagement" had "badly let down" the travelling public.
Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, called for an inquiry but said the government was not responsible for a volcano in Iceland.Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, called for an inquiry but said the government was not responsible for a volcano in Iceland.
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 95,000 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.