Flights to go on despite RAF safety alert

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the RAF's "precautionary measure" would not ground passenger flights.

The incident led to checks of all Eurofighter jets based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and the grounding of the 69m fighter jets comes just two days after UK skies were reopened following an Icelandic volcanic ash cloud which stopped all flights over the UK for almost a week.

But the CAA said the military plane's engines were very different to those of civilian aircraft and the Typhoon incident would not have an impact on passenger plane movements.

Revised airspace guidance for civilian aircraft was drawn up earlier this week to enable UK airspace to reopen.

The guidance requires airlines to make damage inspections before and after flights and to report any ash-related incidents to the CAA.

The CAA said that so far there had been "only a very few reports from airlines and, of these, all related to visual sightings".

A spokeswoman added: "There have been no reports of damage to aircraft."

The MoD said training flights were suspended until technicians could ensure the ash had not caused any engine damage.

A spokesman added: "These are very high-performance jets so they are just being extra cautious.

"They were flying as normal yesterday. Operational flying will continue."

Meanwhile, with airlines running near-normal services again, thousands of Britons have been able to head back to the UK.

Budget airline Ryanair performed a U-turn on the issue of reimbursing passengers after initially announcing travellers would be paid only the original price of their airfare.

Its boss Michael O'Leary yesterday said it would comply with the regulations under which EU airlines are required to reimburse the "reasonable receipted expenses of disrupted passengers".

But he said the EU regulations were "absurd and discriminatory" and that he would continue to work with other bodies to get the regulations changed.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis welcomed the reversal which he said came after the Government and the CAA told Ryanair "in the strongest terms" they were expected to comply with the EU regulations.

Ryanair's rival easyJet said it had already paid for 100,000 hotel nights for stranded passengers. The low-fare carrier added that it was likely to be able to get those stuck abroad home more quickly than first thought, as there was more room on flights due to passengers with reservations making other arrangements.

The end to restrictions meant the airline could also make the delayed launch of flights on five new routes from Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster to Amsterdam, Prague, Barcelona, Faro and Majorca which are expected to carry 300,000 people in their first year.

Nick Smillie, aviation sales director at the airport, said: "We were hoping to start these new routes earlier in the week but obviously due to the restrictions on UK airspace we have had to wait and are pleased to finally be able to send easyJet passengers off on the inaugural flights to European cities and holiday spots.

"The early easyJet flights into Doncaster will be part of the effort to repatriate people back into the UK from routes that easyJet serves. We are pleased that we are able to offer our services and play a part in this important challenge to get people home."

Luxury trip home for stranded Britons

Relieved holidaymakers left stranded by the ash cloud will arrive in Britain later today on board a luxury cruise ship.

Around 2,200 people set off from Bilbao in Spain yesterday aboard the 500m Celebrity Eclipse. Many had endured coach journeys of up to 16 hours overnight to get to the port in one of the largest peacetime repatriations of people to the UK.

Some of the delayed holidaymakers – including around 500 children – had been stranded for up to a week, many having taken package holiday Easter breaks.

Retired Andrea Carlie, 59, from South Anston, near Sheffield, said she and her husband David had been treated "like cattle" by their tour operator after being stranded for seven days on a week-long holiday in Spain.

But bank worker Kirsty Dobson, 22, from Rotherham, said her experience had been better. And sitting on the sundeck of the ship, she added: "The ship is gorgeous and I don't want to get off."