Editorial

Today’s news that airports and airspace have re-opened, has provoked a backlash focusing on why airlines failed in the past to agree "safe" levels of volcano ash, with The Guardian reporting that there was an "unwillingness to grasp this nettle has hampered what had been continuing discussions on the dust issue".

The airlines are believed to have lobbied the government aggressively with an agreement reached last night that "safe pockets" for planes to use are now established, which will permit flow of flights, but with severe delays.

The latest NATS statement said this morning:

"Overnight most of the UK’s airspace has been available with the exception of an area over the north west of Scotland which has continued to be affected by a dense concentration of volcanic ash.  We continue to work with the latest information and guidance from our safety regulator, the CAA, the Met Office and VAAC on the predicted movements of the area of dense volcanic ash.  Based on the latest information, we anticipate that this area will continue to centre on the north west of Scotland and may extend further south into Scottish airspace during today."

In terms of air traffic NATS said:

"Between the period of 0100 – 0700 on 21 April NATS handled 130 flights in airspace over England and Wales and 35 flights in Scottish airspace (including Northern Ireland).  We are in regular contact with the UK airports and airline operators to understand the latest information on flights entering UK airspace and our operation is ready to respond to an increase in demand."

The government cannot be blamed for over-reacting, clearly the UK has been the country hardest hit by the Icelandic volcano ash, and the number one concern should be the safety of passengers and crew on planes.  But airlines again are passing the responsibility onto others, when an agreement should have been reached in the UK, as to constituted “safe levels” of volcano ash.