FED: Heathrow airport opens, but Qantas flights still grounded

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2010
FED: Heathrow airport opens, but Qantas flights still grounded

SYDNEY, April 21 AAP - Qantas flights to the UK and Europe will remain grounded, even
though London's Heathrow airport has re-opened five days after an volcanic eruption in
Iceland forced a shutdown.

Qantas flights bound for London and Frankfurt will not depart from Australian airports
until the airline is certain it can land its planes.

Heathrow re-opened just before 10pm local time on Tuesday (0700 Wednesday AEST) after
the UK's Civil Aviation Authority announced a gradual lifting of flight restrictions.

Dense volcanic ash had forced airports to close across the UK and Europe since last
week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

No-fly zones remain in effect and Qantas is working to determine if it can fly without
the threat of disruption or diversion.

Qantas flights depart in the afternoon and stop over in Singapore before continuing
on to London and Frankfurt.

"For us to launch a flight that could potentially be in the air for 13 to 14 hours,
we need to be certain that the air space will be open when we arrive," a Qantas spokeswoman
told AAP.

Qantas flights will remain grounded until further notice but the airline will re-assess
the situation as conditions change.

"We're definitely looking at all the options," the spokeswoman says.

AAP vpm/wjf/maur

KEYWORD: VOLCANO QANTAS

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