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Chaos Persists as Flights Resume

World | April 21, 2010, Wednesday // 08:22

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Bulgaria: Chaos Persists as Flights Resume

A screen informs of the air traffic disruptions at Charles de Gaulles International airport in Roissy, near Paris, France, 20 April. The airspace over Europe has partially been reopened after air traffic was suspended for several days. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Travel chaos has continued to grip Europe, despite the easing of its aerial lockdown as the Icelandic volcano eruption appeared to wane.

The UK has reopened its airports, while some flights have left Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, but airspace in Germany and Ireland remains restricted.

More than 95,000 flights were cancelled across Europe in the last week and it may take weeks to get passengers home.

The disruption is having an increasing impact on business across the world.

Scientists say southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano is producing more lava, and the ash plume was shrinking, although it remains changeable.

There are concerns the eruption could set off the nearby, larger Katla volcano, which sits on the Myrdalsjokull glacier, but officials said no activity had been detected. Its last major eruption was in 1918.

Finland's airspace remained shut while Denmark's was reopened until 0600 GMT.

Several Danish airports, including Copenhagen, were expected to open for six hours on Wednesday morning.

Germany, meanwhile, extended its flight ban to midnight, although 800 flights were allowed to fly visually at lower altitudes. Neighboring Poland will reopen its airspace at 0500 GMT.

All airports in Spain are open and its government has suggested other countries use Madrid as a hub to get passengers moving.

Swiss and northern Italian airspace has reopened, while Turkish airports have also been operating.

You can check the status of the airports in most European countries in the list below:

AUSTRIA - Airspace open

BELGIUM - Planes landing, but no departures until 1200 GMT Wednesday

BRITAIN - All airports open

DENMARK - Airspace open from 0000 GMT Wednesday until at least 0600 GMT

FINLAND - Airspace closed until 0900 GMT Wednesday

FRANCE - Limited flights. Most airports open, Air France resuming long-haul service Wednesday

GERMANY - Airspace staying shut to 0001 GMT Wednesday, apart from 800 low-altitude flights

IRELAND - Airspace reopened

ITALY - Airspace open