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All UK airports reopened at 10pm yesterday (April 20) following six days of flight disruption from a cloud of volcanic ash.

Transport secretary Lord Adonis made the announcement following a meeting with the CAA to assess the continuing effects of the ash cloud from an eruption in Iceland.

Some restrictions will remain, but they will be much less rigorous than those which have been in place since Thursday last week.

The CAA has issued guidance saying after the ban has lifted airlines must do their own safety checks, inspect their aircraft for ash damage and report any incidents to the CAA.

It said: “The CAA has drawn together many of the world’s top aviation engineers and experts to find a way to tackle this immense challenge, unknown in the UK and Europe in living memory.

“Manufacturers have now agreed increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas.”

BA plans to operate all longhaul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick today. It is hoped the airline will bring flights into Heathrow and Gatwick between 5am and noon.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh told Sky News it would be weeks before the industry could get back to normal.

He said: "We've had thousands of crew stuck abroad and we have to get them back to Heathrow."

Walsh said the industry had learned from the experience. "We'll look at what has happened and what could have been done better. The industry has learned an awful lot in a very short time.

He added: "The decisions that have been taken were with safety in mind. There could be further eruptions in the next few weeks, and if that means we have to suspend flights again, we will do."

Airline association Iata and airline bosses including Monarch's Tim Jeans have been critical of the handling of the ash crisis, with many calling for the restrictions to be lifted.

A British Airways test flight from Heathrow to Cardiff carried out on Sunday April 18 found no damage to the aircraft or its engines. KLM and the German airline Lufthansa also carried out test flights in their countries’ airspace and said no damage had occurred.

Commercial flights were first grounded on Thursday April 15 as weather systems pushed the first cloud of ash south from Iceland. Volcanic ash is a particular threat to aircraft engines and can cause them to stall.

Airline body Iata said on Friday that its conservative estimate was that the grounding has cost around $200 million per day in lost revenues, plus the additional costs of bringing services back into line once the restrictions are lifted.

Those still stranded overseas should call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office helpline on 0207 008 0000.

source: www.travelweekly.co.uk