European skies open but airline schedules scrambled

[Dover]

Source: Reuters

Europe's skies were open for business on Wednesday but with so many planes having been grounded by the pall of volcanic ash spreading from Iceland it could take days or weeks to clear the backlog.

About 75 percent of flights in Europe will operate on Wednesday -- some 21,000 of the 28,000 flights normally scheduled, European air traffic agency Eurocontrol said.

Almost all of European airspace below 20,000 feet was available, with restrictions in some areas such as southern Sweden and Helsinki.

"It is anticipated that these restrictions will gradually be lifted throughout the day," Eurocontrol said in a statement.

Britain, a global air hub as well as a busy destination in its own right, reopened its airspace on Tuesday night, giving a huge boost to travelers and air freight.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63E1TM20100421

[dipsydoodle]

1. It isn't quite that simple

certainly not for the UK. They know where the ash clouds remain and at what heights so the usable air corridors are restricted and constantly updated. Turnaround times at our airports have now increased too - all airlines are obliged to check engines for damage prior to reusing the planes for take off.

[Dover]

2. Yes, a little further into the article they mention the corridors, etc.

But the article is definitely a bit Pollyanna-ish. And if I were flying I would be concerned that
pressures due to the astronomical economic losses as a result of the initial 'no fly' rules were behind this. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no accidents due to the ash.

[treestar]

3. I can hardly believe they think their financial issues matter at all

Safety does not come first with some of the people quoted in that article.

And they will get the revenue back via clearing the backlog. All of the travelers will return. Maybe one or two will have an epiphany and decide to live in their newly adopted country, but they lost not a single customer otherwise.