Click to play videoBrasilia: Seven days after the Iceland volcanic ash shut down on major airports, air traffic in Europe is back to near normal. More than 75 per cent flights are now operating; it's expected to be up to 100 per cent shortly. The only exception is Norway and Sweden where airports are still closed due to fresh ash clouds.
"Happily the situation today is very significantly improved over what it has been over the previous days. We expect that more than 75 per cent of the flights foreseen to operate in Europe will be able to operate today. That is that more than 20,000 flights out of 27 to 28,000 will be able to operate,” said Eurocontrol Deputy, Brian Flynn.
The shutdown has so far cost the aviation sector in Europe a whopping $ 1.7 billion.
Estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) say about 1, 90, 000 flights across Europe were cancelled. Air carriers are planning to seek compensation from governments - an idea backed by the IATA
"Reopening the airspace in UK was a big step forward but the situation continues to be an embarrassment for Europe. Why? Because they were late in taking decisions. Europe has to take leadership in speeding up certain kind of processes," said Goivanni Bisignani, Director General and Chief Executive, IATA.
Meanwhile, even though transatlantic flights have resumed many passengers have no clear idea when they will reach their destinations. The back log is so huge it may take weeks before things are back to normal.
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