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Recriminations over flight chaos | Recriminations over flight chaos |
(about 1 hour later) | |
There have been bitter recriminations over the almost week-long closure of large parts of European airspace because of volcanic ash from Iceland. | There have been bitter recriminations over the almost week-long closure of large parts of European airspace because of volcanic ash from Iceland. |
Airlines are seeking compensation from governments over the disruption, said to be the worst since World War II. | Airlines are seeking compensation from governments over the disruption, said to be the worst since World War II. |
But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond a ban on flights. | But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond a ban on flights. |
Earlier, officials said air traffic in Europe would be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday, although an alert led Qantas to cancel a flight from London. | Earlier, officials said air traffic in Europe would be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday, although an alert led Qantas to cancel a flight from London. |
Activity at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was back to normal by Thursday morning, officials said, with most departures leaving on time except for a number of delayed flights to the UK. | |
Tens of thousands of people remain stranded around the world as airlines restart services after the unprecedented travel chaos. | Tens of thousands of people remain stranded around the world as airlines restart services after the unprecedented travel chaos. |
'Poor decision-making' | 'Poor decision-making' |
Six days after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland triggered the first airspace closures, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said airlines had lost $1.7bn (£1.1bn). | Six days after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland triggered the first airspace closures, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said airlines had lost $1.7bn (£1.1bn). |
I think if they'd sent up planes immediately to see whether the ash was actually too dangerous... we would have been back flying a lot sooner Sir Richard BransonChairman, Virgin Group | I think if they'd sent up planes immediately to see whether the ash was actually too dangerous... we would have been back flying a lot sooner Sir Richard BransonChairman, Virgin Group |
"For an industry that lost $9.4bn last year and was forecast to lose a further $2.8bn in 2010, this crisis is devastating," Iata chief Giovanni Bisignani said. "Airspace was being closed based on theoretical models, not on facts." | "For an industry that lost $9.4bn last year and was forecast to lose a further $2.8bn in 2010, this crisis is devastating," Iata chief Giovanni Bisignani said. "Airspace was being closed based on theoretical models, not on facts." |
Mr Bisignani said the situation had been exacerbated by "poor decision-making" from governments and called on them to compensate airlines, something which the European Commission has said it is considering. | Mr Bisignani said the situation had been exacerbated by "poor decision-making" from governments and called on them to compensate airlines, something which the European Commission has said it is considering. |
"I am the first one to say that this industry does not want or need bailouts. But this crisis is not the result of running our business badly," he added. | "I am the first one to say that this industry does not want or need bailouts. But this crisis is not the result of running our business badly," he added. |
"Governments should help carriers recover the cost of this disruption." | "Governments should help carriers recover the cost of this disruption." |
Compensation row | Compensation row |
Some airlines are also demanding changes to EU passenger compensation rules, which require them to provide accommodation for those prevented from flying. | Some airlines are also demanding changes to EU passenger compensation rules, which require them to provide accommodation for those prevented from flying. |
Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of the low-cost carrier Ryanair, said it was "absurd" that his firm had to spend thousands of euros on someone whose ticket might have cost only a few euros. | Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of the low-cost carrier Ryanair, said it was "absurd" that his firm had to spend thousands of euros on someone whose ticket might have cost only a few euros. |
Camping at New York's JFK airport | Camping at New York's JFK airport |
Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would only reimburse travellers the original price of their air fare and no more, potentially setting up a clash with Ireland's Commission for Aviation Regulation and the EU. | Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would only reimburse travellers the original price of their air fare and no more, potentially setting up a clash with Ireland's Commission for Aviation Regulation and the EU. |
"We will look forward to seeing them in court because frankly I think this is a great opportunity for airlines to expose this nonsense," he added. | "We will look forward to seeing them in court because frankly I think this is a great opportunity for airlines to expose this nonsense," he added. |
Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard Branson meanwhile told the BBC that he believed governments would be unlikely to impose a blanket ban again. | Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard Branson meanwhile told the BBC that he believed governments would be unlikely to impose a blanket ban again. |
"I think if they'd sent up planes immediately to see whether the ash was actually too dangerous to fly through or to look for corridors where it wasn't very thick, I think that we would have been back flying a lot sooner," he said. | "I think if they'd sent up planes immediately to see whether the ash was actually too dangerous to fly through or to look for corridors where it wasn't very thick, I think that we would have been back flying a lot sooner," he said. |
The bans were imposed because volcanic ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage jet engines. | The bans were imposed because volcanic ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage jet engines. |
The European decision to partially reopen airspace did not come until the fifth day of the crisis, when transport ministers met by teleconference. | The European decision to partially reopen airspace did not come until the fifth day of the crisis, when transport ministers met by teleconference. |
'No over-reaction' | 'No over-reaction' |
The UK Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, said international safety regulators had been too cautious in their handling of the crisis. | The UK Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, said international safety regulators had been too cautious in their handling of the crisis. |
UK airports reopen Will it affect climate? How countries handled crisis In pictures: Home at last | UK airports reopen Will it affect climate? How countries handled crisis In pictures: Home at last |
But Henri Gaudru, the president of the European Volcanological Society, said there had been few options beyond the flight ban. | But Henri Gaudru, the president of the European Volcanological Society, said there had been few options beyond the flight ban. |
"This was not an over-reaction. We... do not know enough about these clouds and what can happen to planes flying into them," he told a news conference in Geneva. | "This was not an over-reaction. We... do not know enough about these clouds and what can happen to planes flying into them," he told a news conference in Geneva. |
Earlier, the European air traffic agency Eurocontrol said it expected "almost 100%" of flights to operate in the continent on Thursday. | Earlier, the European air traffic agency Eurocontrol said it expected "almost 100%" of flights to operate in the continent on Thursday. |
However, a fresh volcanic ash alert led Australian airline Qantas to cancel one flight out of London and delay another for 11 hours until early Thursday, infuriating passengers. | However, a fresh volcanic ash alert led Australian airline Qantas to cancel one flight out of London and delay another for 11 hours until early Thursday, infuriating passengers. |
At London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, traffic ran at 90% normal service on Wednesday. Many night flights are being allowed temporarily to help clear the backlog of stranded passengers. | At London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, traffic ran at 90% normal service on Wednesday. Many night flights are being allowed temporarily to help clear the backlog of stranded passengers. |
Transatlantic services have returned to their normal level, with 338 flights arriving in Europe on Wednesday, according to Eurocontrol. | Transatlantic services have returned to their normal level, with 338 flights arriving in Europe on Wednesday, according to Eurocontrol. |
German airline Lufthansa said it would fly at full capacity by operating about 1,800 flights on Thursday, up from about 700 on Wednesday. | German airline Lufthansa said it would fly at full capacity by operating about 1,800 flights on Thursday, up from about 700 on Wednesday. |
Air France said its long-haul flights were now departing as normal. | Air France said its long-haul flights were now departing as normal. |
Denmark, Norway and Sweden have lifted their no-fly bans, but some airspace restrictions remain over Finland and some remote Scottish isles. | Denmark, Norway and Sweden have lifted their no-fly bans, but some airspace restrictions remain over Finland and some remote Scottish isles. |
In Iceland, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to erupt, but it is no longer spewing out ash into the atmosphere. | In Iceland, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to erupt, but it is no longer spewing out ash into the atmosphere. |
"There is much, much less ash production and the plume is low," Gudrun Nina Petersen of the Icelandic Met Office said. | "There is much, much less ash production and the plume is low," Gudrun Nina Petersen of the Icelandic Met Office said. |
Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Send us your comments. | Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Send us your comments. |
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