Ash cloud latest: Most airports open again (with video)

PASSENGERS suffering ash cloud-caused delays and cancellations were given some respite today when flight restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports were lifted around 11am.

The two London airports had remained shut until 7am today after the Icelandic ash cloud had again caused havoc to flights in and out of the UK.

Even after the 7am reopening, Heathrow and Gatwick passengers had endured severe disruption to services due to their close proximity to the no-fly zone.

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But around 11am, air traffic control service Nats said the Civil Aviation Authority had lifted the no-fly zone that had been affecting flights at Heathrow and Gatwick.

It added: "The decision comes following further information from the Met Office about the nature and location of the ash cloud.

"The no-fly zone remains in place in two key areas affecting operations in Northern Ireland and the Shetland Isles. Airports falling within the no-fly zones include Belfast City, Londonderry, Shetland and Orkney. All other airports are open."

Among passengers who had hoped for divine intervention at Heathrow today were a group of 24 pilgrims from across the UK travelling to Tel Aviv.

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Group leader Reverend Alan Eaves, a retired vicar from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, said: "I didn't think we would be leaving at all because of what I heard late last night, but it seems our flight has not been affected.

"We spoke to our tour operator and they advised us to come to the airport anyway, but after getting up at 3am none of us wanted to be sent straight back home.

"The first we knew about any possible problems was on Saturday when someone asked what I was doing about the ash, and I replied: 'What ash?'."

Andrew and Bernadette Clarke, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, were not as lucky however, as their 8.55am British Airways flight to New York was cancelled.

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The couple, on a four-day break to the city before travelling back on the Queen Mary 2 cruise liner, were transferred to a flight leaving at 10.30am.

Mr Clarke, 57, said: "We've just had to keep an eye on the news, because the cruise leaves on Friday so if we had to wait much longer there wouldn't be any point going."

His 53-year-old wife said: "Our hearts did sink a bit when we heard the airport was shut last night, as we booked the holiday a year ago."

Other airports across the UK were returning to normal, but passengers were told to expect many delays and cancellations, with airlines having to cancel hundreds of flights.

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Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "We are gathering more evidence all the time. The aircraft manufacturers are looking at that evidence.

"They are looking at what inspection regimes they can put in place that would allow safe flying through a somewhat higher threshold of ash.

"If we can do that the likelihood of volcanic ash disrupting flights will obviously diminish."