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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Flights resume as air ban lifted | Flights resume as air ban lifted |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Some flights have been arriving and taking off from Northern Ireland's two main airports after restrictions on UK airspace were eased on Tuesday evening. | Some flights have been arriving and taking off from Northern Ireland's two main airports after restrictions on UK airspace were eased on Tuesday evening. |
| Many of the airlines are hoping to resume their schedules from 1300 BST on Wednesday but warn it could take days to return to full service. | Many of the airlines are hoping to resume their schedules from 1300 BST on Wednesday but warn it could take days to return to full service. |
| An estimated 120,000 passengers were affected by the closure of NI airspace six days ago. | An estimated 120,000 passengers were affected by the closure of NI airspace six days ago. |
| The first set of stranded passengers arrived back in NI on Tuesday evening. | The first set of stranded passengers arrived back in NI on Tuesday evening. |
| Uel Hoey from Belfast International Airport said they expected more flights to take off and land this afternoon. | Uel Hoey from Belfast International Airport said they expected more flights to take off and land this afternoon. |
| "This morning it's been largely Easyjet activity. We have had a significant number of flights in and out and we expect activity to ramp up with other airlines during the course of the day." | "This morning it's been largely Easyjet activity. We have had a significant number of flights in and out and we expect activity to ramp up with other airlines during the course of the day." |
| Katy Best from George Best City Airport said with the exception of Ryanair there was almost a full schedule of flights operating today. | Katy Best from George Best City Airport said with the exception of Ryanair there was almost a full schedule of flights operating today. |
| "Flybe have almost all of their schedule operational again, BMI from mid morning have all of their Heathrow flights back operating and Easyjet also. It's just fantastic to see passengers coming through, a few relieved faces, people are delighted to be finally getting on their way." | "Flybe have almost all of their schedule operational again, BMI from mid morning have all of their Heathrow flights back operating and Easyjet also. It's just fantastic to see passengers coming through, a few relieved faces, people are delighted to be finally getting on their way." |
| At the City of Derry airport Aer Arann flights on Wednesday morning were cancelled, but the airline hopes the evening service to Dublin may operate. | At the City of Derry airport Aer Arann flights on Wednesday morning were 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. |
| Ryanair said its flights between the UK and Ireland will resume at 0500 BST on Friday. | Ryanair said its 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. | 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. |
| WEDNESDAY'S FLIGHTS BA: All long haul flights from Heathrow and Gatwick; Short haul cancellations until noon Virgin Atlantic: Normal schedule 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; Short haul cancellations until noon Virgin Atlantic: Normal schedule 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 |
| 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. |
| "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." |
| There will be limited flight operations from Dublin and Cork airports on Wednesday and Shannon Airport has confirmed it is to remain open. | There will be limited flight operations from Dublin and Cork airports on Wednesday and Shannon Airport has confirmed it is to remain open. |
| However, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has warned that it may take up to three days for full services to resume. | However, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has warned that it may take up to three days for full services to resume. |
| The IAA emphasised that the lifting of restrictions is subject to the ash cloud not moving over Ireland and no further aggressive activity from the volcano in Iceland. | The IAA emphasised that the lifting of restrictions is subject to the ash cloud not moving over Ireland and no further aggressive activity from the volcano in Iceland. |
| It said: "The IAA continuously monitors the situation and will issue a statement if the exclusion zone threatens Irish airspace today or in the days to come." | It said: "The IAA continuously monitors the situation and will issue a statement if the exclusion zone threatens Irish airspace today or in the days to come." |
| Risk assessments | Risk assessments |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| 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. |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights. | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the ban was lifted after a "robust safety assessment" based on observational data and test flights. |
| "The whole of Europe has been in the same position, acting according to the same aviation safety rules," he said. "European safety regulators have been working to properly understand the impact of the ash cloud which has come from Iceland." | "The whole of Europe has been in the same position, acting according to the same aviation safety rules," he said. "European safety regulators have been working to properly understand the impact of the ash cloud which has come from Iceland." |
| Lord Adonis denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry. | Lord Adonis denied the decision to reopen the airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry. |
| About 75% of European flights are due to operate on Wednesday, according to the air traffic agency Eurocontrol. | About 75% of European flights are due to operate on Wednesday, according to the air traffic agency Eurocontrol. |
| Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel body Abta, said the return to normality would be slow and there was also a risk the ash cloud could return. | Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel body Abta, said the return to normality would be slow and there was also a risk the ash cloud could return. |
| "The thing to remember is that aircraft and crew are going to be in the wrong place," she said. | "The thing to remember is that aircraft and crew are going to be in the wrong place," she said. |
| "I know for example that some of our tour operators have decided to cancel their programmes going out of the UK in order to reposition their aircraft and crew. It's a huge logistical operation." | "I know for example that some of our tour operators have decided to cancel their programmes going out of the UK in order to reposition their aircraft and crew. It's a huge logistical operation." |
| The International Air Transport Association estimated airlines had lost about $1.7bn (£1.1bn) as a result of the travel disruption. Easyjet put its expense at £50m. |