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22/04/2010
Latest On UK Flights
UK airspaces are slowly returning to normal but ministers are under intense scrutiny over the cost of the shut down and why it took so long to lift the ban.
Airlines want compensation for the volcanic ash disruption, estimated to have cost the industry more than £1bn.
Airlines said the Government's dithering – which meant UK airports remained closed for a day longer than others in Europe – had cost them an extra £130 million in lost trade, and demanded compensation for what Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, has described as an "unnecessary" six-day shutdown.
Easyjet said the flight ban had cost it £50m, including paying for 15,000 hotel rooms.
Oliver Aust from the airline told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme it will compensate passengers but said that the law was "unfair".
Meanwhile Ryanair appear to have backed down from a threat to refuse to pay out any compensation above the cost of original flights.
The airline today said it will comply with EU regulations requiring airlines to reimburse the "reasonable receipted expenses" of disrupted passengers.
Some airlines are operating a full schedule, although there are cancellations and passengers are still advised not to travel to airports unless their flight is confirmed as unaffected.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on 15 April sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
The blanket ban was lifted on Tuesday night and efforts to get tens of thousands of stranded Britons home began.
(LB/CD)
Airlines want compensation for the volcanic ash disruption, estimated to have cost the industry more than £1bn.
Airlines said the Government's dithering – which meant UK airports remained closed for a day longer than others in Europe – had cost them an extra £130 million in lost trade, and demanded compensation for what Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, has described as an "unnecessary" six-day shutdown.
Easyjet said the flight ban had cost it £50m, including paying for 15,000 hotel rooms.
Oliver Aust from the airline told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme it will compensate passengers but said that the law was "unfair".
Meanwhile Ryanair appear to have backed down from a threat to refuse to pay out any compensation above the cost of original flights.
The airline today said it will comply with EU regulations requiring airlines to reimburse the "reasonable receipted expenses" of disrupted passengers.
Some airlines are operating a full schedule, although there are cancellations and passengers are still advised not to travel to airports unless their flight is confirmed as unaffected.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull on 15 April sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
The blanket ban was lifted on Tuesday night and efforts to get tens of thousands of stranded Britons home began.
(LB/CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
