European airspace that was closed by the volcanic eruption in Iceland will reopen to flights today after transport ministers said planes could fly through thinner parts of the ash plume. Operations in areas where dust is detected will be assessed by Britain's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, which will also determine which zones are entirely safe and which should remain closed because of the potential threat to aircraft engines. A new ash cloud headed for the U.K. means London's airports may not be able to open, National Air Traffic Services said.
With planes out of position and airlines concentrating on repatriating stranded passengers, the restoration of full timetables may take six days, according to the International Air Transport Association. The flight ban introduced after the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted on April 14 has led to the cancellation of 81,000 flights and is costing carriers as much as $300 million a day in lost revenue, the industry group says.
Giovanni Bisignani, director general and CEO for the Air Transport Association, said yesterday that European governments have failed to mitigate the loss of billions of dollars in business. "We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it -- with no risk assessment, no consultation, no co-ordination and no leadership. This crisis is costing airlines at least $200 million a day in lost revenues and the European economy is suffering billions of dollars in lost business," Bisignani said in a statement.
The air industry took a significant hit in the weeks and months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as travellers stayed home, questioning the safety of air travel.
Airline shares fell yesterday and European Union competition chief Joaquin Almunia said the EU Commission is considering easing stringent rules for state aid to airlines.
British Airways, which says it has lost $22 to $30 million US a day in passenger and freight revenue, said it had asked the European Union and national governments for compensation.
Eruptions from the Icelandic volcano spewing ash are weakening, according to the United Kingdom's national weather service, but the ash cloud continues to blow across the U.K. and Europe, stranding millions of travellers.
EU leaders reached a deal yesterday, agreeing to allow airlines to operate in designated zones starting this morning.
Millions of travellers, including many Canadians, have been stranded in Europe and abroad since last Thursday, shelling out money for extended hotel stays and frantically trying to rebook flights home.
About 60 visitors, mostly French, sat in packs waiting for word on their fate as the Greater Toronto Airport Authority announced as many as 17 cancelled flights primarily to London, Paris and Frankfurt throughout the day yesterday. By the end of the day, it appeared some flights to Paris and Munich would proceed.
"Nobody knows what to do. There is no order," said Jimmy Cavret, a Parisian stranded since Thursday after a two-week trip through the U.S.
In a news statement yesterday afternoon, Air Canada said the company's flights to and from London Heathrow, as well as those to and from Frankfurt and Munich, remained cancelled.
Meanwhile, Air Canada flights to and from Newfoundland airports resumed yesterday following early-morning cancellations that came amid concerns the ash cloud would reach Canada's East Coast.
"Should the ash . . . return as a risk factor, airports and air carriers would be advised and adjust operations accordingly," said Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.
Transport Canada said it was working with Environment Canada and Nav Canada to monitor weather patterns and said it would update travellers and airlines as the situation develops.