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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 unprecendented shutdown, which they say cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn).
But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond a ban on flights. But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond flight bans.
Although officials said air traffic in Europe would be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday, a number of airports in Sweden and Norway closed again. The air traffic agency Eurocontrol says it expects European flights to be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday.
Gothenburg's Landvetter and Malmo's Sturup airports, both in southern Sweden, closed late on Wednesday when part of the volcanic ash cloud took an unexpected turn north, the country's TT news agency reported. A Eurocontrol spokeswoman said nearly all of the continent's 28,000 scheduled flights, including more than 300 flights on transatlantic routes, were expected to proceed. On Wednesday, about 80% of flights took place.
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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8635833.stm">UK airports reopen class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8631396.stm">Will it affect climate? class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/04/would_you_fly.html">How countries handled crisis class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8635392.stm">In pictures: Home at last
It said the airports may open later, while an official at Stockholm's main airport said the moving ash cloud may force its closure. Airlines are clearing the backlog of uncompleted journeys, but thousands of travellers remain stranded around the world.
Flight bans imposed on Norway's second and fourth largest airports were later lifted, clearing the whole of Norwegian airspace. Six days after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland triggered the first airspace closures, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticised the bans.
Eurocontrol, the European air traffic agency, said the latest flight restrictions also applied to northern Scotland and parts of Finland. "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.
But a spokeswoman said nearly all of the continent's 28,000 other scheduled flights, including more than 300 flights on transatlantic routes, were expected to proceed. "Airspace was being closed based on theoretical models, not on facts."
Tens of thousands of people remain stranded around the world as airlines restart services after the unprecedented travel chaos.
'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).
"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.
Camping at New York's JFK airport 'See you in court'
"Governments should help carriers recover the cost of this disruption."
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.
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
Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would only reimburse travellers the original price of their airfare 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 airfare 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.
On Thursday, Ryanair confirmed it would comply with EU regulations on reimbursements. But it said the EU regulation in question (EU261) did not entitle passengers to compensation, as the recent closure of European airspace was beyond the control of airlines.On Thursday, Ryanair confirmed it would comply with EU regulations on reimbursements. But it said the EU regulation in question (EU261) did not entitle passengers to compensation, as the recent closure of European airspace was beyond the control of airlines.
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 overreaction''No overreaction'
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.
class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8635833.stm">UK airports reopen class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8631396.stm">Will it affect climate? class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/04/would_you_fly.html">How countries handled crisis class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8635392.stm">In pictures: Home at last Camping at New York's JFK airport
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 overreaction. 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 overreaction. 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, Eurocontrol said it expected "almost 100%" of flights to operate in the continent on Thursday. Despite Thursday's near-normal traffic, a number of fresh disruptions have been reported.
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 on Thursday, infuriating passengers. In southern Sweden, Gothenburg's Landvetter and Malmo's Sturup airports, closed on Wednesday, when part of the volcanic ash cloud took an unexpected turn north, the country's TT news agency reported.
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. Flight bans imposed on Norway's second and fourth largest airports were later lifted, clearing the whole of Norwegian airspace.
Transatlantic services have returned to their normal level, with 338 flights arriving in Europe on Wednesday, according to air traffic agency Eurocontrol. Air restrictions also continue to apply to northern Scotland and parts of Finland.
German airline Lufthansa said it would fly at full capacity by operating about 1,800 flights on Thursday, up from about 700 on Wednesday. A fresh volcanic ash alert led Australian airline Qantas to cancel one flight out of London and delay another for 11 hours until early on Thursday, infuriating passengers.
Air France said its long-haul flights were now departing as normal.
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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