Flights resume in Europe

Rachael Brown, London

Last Updated: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:30:00 +1000

The ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland has significantly diminished and eruptions continue, but flights are resuming at European airports.

There will be a phased reopening of the skies over the UK and Europe on Wednesday.

It is six days after an ash plume from the volcano blew across Europe and disrupted world aviation, but the European air traffic control agency now says a limited number of flights will be able to operate.

The Civil Aviation Authority's Dame Deirde says more is now understood about tolerance levels of aircraft to ash, and manufacturers have now increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas.

Dame Deirde added there will continue to be some no-fly zones where ash concentration levels are too high.

The UK's transport minister, Lord Adonis, says the onus now lies with airlines to decide whether they think it is safe or not to fly.

They will be supplied with regular updates from the meteorology bureau.

Meanwhile, Australian airline Qantas has announced it is restarting its flights to Europe.

Chief Executive Alan Joyce says there will be flights from Asia to Europe from Wednesday night, while flights from Australia will resume on Thursday.

He says two flights will leave London on Wednesday night.

Mr Joyce says 15,500 passengers have been stranded in the last five days, and the airline has spent $A700,000 a day putting up two thousand passengers in Asia.

"We believe tonight we'll clear nearly everybody that's in hotels in Asia," he said.

Singapore Airlines and British Airways are preparing to resume flights to London on Wednesday afternoon.

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