Israeli Worries Weaken As Planes Finally Fly Out of Europe

inn ^ | 4/20/10 | Malkah Fleisher

[Nachum]

Concern over the impact on Israel's economy may soon die down, as for the first time in several days, several hundred flights took off for and from Europe Tuesday.

On April 14, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, leaving a cloud of ash high above Europe. Authorities cancelled all flights, for fear that the ash would enter plane engines and cause them to fail in mid-air. The dearth of flights also brought Israel's international air commerce to a grinding halt.

On Sunday, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz mulled calling a special meeting of the Finance Ministry to discuss the impact of the phenomenon on Israel's trade and tourism. Israel's flower industry, which blooms brightly in Europe, faced major losses because the products are shipped fresh. Europe is a major international export hub for Israel.

[Star Traveler]

Volcanic ash cloud: Pilots warn against 'rash' decisions to allow flights

European airline pilots warn governments about engine failures caused by ash amid pressure to get flights moving again

Pilots warn against ‘rash’ decisions to allow flights through the volcanic ash cloud amid pressure to get flights started again. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

European airline pilots warned governments and safety regulators today against making "rash" decisions to allow planes to fly through volcanic ash clouds amid growing pressure from airlines across Europe to create "safe flying corridors" to get flights moving again.

The pilots' intervention came as air traffic controllers dashed hopes that flights would resume from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted this evening by announcing that most UK airspace would remain closed until 1am tomorrow. Airlines said the restrictions, which meant only a few flights took off from airports in Scotland and northern England, were an over-reaction.

BA announced tonight it was cancelling all flights until midday tomorrow.

The UK's air safety watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority, is holding meetings with national air traffic controllers, airline executives and Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, to discuss flying through zones with small amounts of ash. But the European Cockpit Association, told the Guardian today that any attempts to establish "safe flying corridors" through airspace where ash was present should not be rushed.

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