Advertisement

Flight ban lifted

DDP/The Local
DDP/The Local - [email protected]
Flight ban lifted
Photo: DPA

Air travel in Germany was set to creep back to normality Wednesday with the air traffic authority DFS announcing air space would be opened at 11 am for all regular flights.

Advertisement

All 16 of the country's international airports were cleared to resume their normal flight schedules, a spokesperson said.

The announcement followed an earlier extension of the air space closure until 8 am Wednesday morning, owing to the cloud of ash seeping from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

CLICK HERE FOR A GALLERY OF THE VOLCANO.

The volcanic ash, which floated over much of northern Europe, has caused the worst civil aviation chaos in Europe’s history, forcing the virtual shutdown of air travel for nearly six days.

Despite the chaos, about 800 flights took off and landed in Germany on Tuesday, with authorities giving special permission for lower-altitude flights in which pilots flew visually rather than relying on instruments and stayed in constant contact with air traffic controllers. These "visual" rules strictly limit the number of flights that can be allowed, DFS has said.

The special permits were prioritised for flights picking up German travellers stranded abroad.

Airspace closures were meanwhile lifted in several neighbouring countries.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also