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21/04/2010
Government 'Too Cautious' Over Flight Ban
Disruption caused by the flight ban are far from over with airlines saying it could take weeks to get back to normality.
Today, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, has admitted to BBC that the Government was "too cautious" in imposing a six-day ban on all flights from British airports.
More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past week so there is no doubt that airlines will face a huge task as the ban ends.
This will enrage tens of thousands of passengers who are continuing to face delays despite the reopening of all British airports after they were shut by the volcanic ash cloud.
In some destinations, passengers trying to book flights back to Britain have been told they cannot travel until next month.
The UK no-fly zone was dramatically lifted last night after a game of brinkmanship by British Airways (BA) boss Willie Walsh. The blanket ban was then lifted from 10pm on Tuesday.
The BA Chief Executive sent 26 long-haul flights towards British airports and demanded that the air authorities allow them to land.
The British Airways flight from Vancouver was among a handful to arrive at London Heathrow.
By 7.40am, 24 flights had landed at Heathrow since Tuesday night but none had taken off.
Most flights remained cancelled until late this afternoon as airlines attempt to return to a normal schedule, with many aircraft and crews still returning from foreign airports.
Passengers had been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.
BA said disruption for them could continue for "weeks" and it could take a similar amount of time to repatriate tens of thousands of stranded Britons.
But they also said they are looking to operate all long-haul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick on Wednesday.
The airline said there would be short-haul cancellations to and from London airports until 1pm on Wednesday, and possibly beyond that time
Virgin Atlantic said it planned to operate its normal flying schedule in and out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester on Wednesday. There may be a small number of delays, it added.
Easyjet said it planned to resume "some services" across the UK and Europe on Wednesday morning
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.
(LB/BMcC)
Today, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, has admitted to BBC that the Government was "too cautious" in imposing a six-day ban on all flights from British airports.
More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe over the past week so there is no doubt that airlines will face a huge task as the ban ends.
This will enrage tens of thousands of passengers who are continuing to face delays despite the reopening of all British airports after they were shut by the volcanic ash cloud.
In some destinations, passengers trying to book flights back to Britain have been told they cannot travel until next month.
The UK no-fly zone was dramatically lifted last night after a game of brinkmanship by British Airways (BA) boss Willie Walsh. The blanket ban was then lifted from 10pm on Tuesday.
The BA Chief Executive sent 26 long-haul flights towards British airports and demanded that the air authorities allow them to land.
The British Airways flight from Vancouver was among a handful to arrive at London Heathrow.
By 7.40am, 24 flights had landed at Heathrow since Tuesday night but none had taken off.
Most flights remained cancelled until late this afternoon as airlines attempt to return to a normal schedule, with many aircraft and crews still returning from foreign airports.
Passengers had been warned of further delays because of the backlog and planes not being in the right place.
BA said disruption for them could continue for "weeks" and it could take a similar amount of time to repatriate tens of thousands of stranded Britons.
But they also said they are looking to operate all long-haul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick on Wednesday.
The airline said there would be short-haul cancellations to and from London airports until 1pm on Wednesday, and possibly beyond that time
Virgin Atlantic said it planned to operate its normal flying schedule in and out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester on Wednesday. There may be a small number of delays, it added.
Easyjet said it planned to resume "some services" across the UK and Europe on Wednesday morning
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.
(LB/BMcC)
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