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Recriminations over flight chaos Recriminations over flight chaos
(9 minutes 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 unprecendented shutdown, which they say cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn).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 flight bans.But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond flight bans.
The air traffic agency Eurocontrol says it expects European flights to be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday.The air traffic agency Eurocontrol says it expects European flights to be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday.
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.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.
href="/2/hi/uk_news/8635833.stm">UK airports reopen class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8631396.stm">Will it affect climate? How countries handled crisis In pictures: Home at last Will it affect climate? How countries handled crisis In pictures: Home at last class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8636807.stm">Voices: 'Better safe than sorry'
Airlines are clearing the backlog of uncompleted journeys, but thousands of travellers remain stranded around the world.Airlines are clearing the backlog of uncompleted journeys, but thousands of travellers remain stranded around the world.
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.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.
"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."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.""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.
'See you in court''See you in court'
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 GroupI 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.
Camping at New York's JFK airportCamping 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.
Despite Thursday's near-normal traffic, a number of fresh disruptions have been reported.Despite Thursday's near-normal traffic, a number of fresh disruptions have been reported.
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.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.
Flight bans imposed on Norway's second and fourth largest airports were later lifted, clearing the whole of Norwegian airspace.Flight bans imposed on Norway's second and fourth largest airports were later lifted, clearing the whole of Norwegian airspace.
Air restrictions also continue to apply to northern Scotland and parts of Finland.Air restrictions also continue to apply to northern Scotland and parts of Finland.
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.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 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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