Europe Starts to Resume Flights

The first flights in northern Europe have taken off after five days of inactivity caused by the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland. Three flights departed from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport late on Monday, bound for New York, Shanghai and Dubai, reports BBC.

There are hopes that many routes within Europe will be able to resume operations on today. But UK air traffic officials said a new ash cloud spreading from Iceland cast doubt on plans to reopen UK airspace.

British Airways says it is "reviewing" its plan to resume flights from London airports from 1800 GMT, in the light of the latest reports.
EU transport ministers proposed creating a core no-fly area, a limited-service zone and an open-skies area. Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings said his country "taking a lead" in restarting flights, but warned that further suspensions might prove necessary if the situation worsens.

The International Air Transport Association earlier labeled the chaos a mess and an embarrassment for Europe. The body says its losses have soared over $1bn USD, since much of Europe's airspace was closed last week because of ash from southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano.

Experts had earlier said the volcano - which erupted last Wednesday for the second time in a month - was now spewing more steam and less ash. A US official said on Monday a Nato F-16 fighter jet had suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud.

Meanwhile, the UK deployed three Royal Navy warships to help pick up stranded passengers from Spain and the Channel ports. In Spain, where all airports were open, the government offered to let Britain and other European countries use its airports as stopovers to get passengers moving again.