Manchester Airport says it will reopen from 9am on Tuesday as the national air traffic control body started to lift restrictions on UK airspace caused by volcanic ash in the atmosphere.
But the airport warned that significant disruption to flights is likely to continue for some days as restrictions remain in place across much of Europe.
An airport spokesman said: "NATS has confirmed that UK airspace will progressively open tomorrow.
"Consequently, Manchester Airport will be open from 09:00 on Tuesday 20 April 2010 unless there is a deterioration in conditions.
"It is absolutely essential that people contact their airline before travelling to the airport for any flight because schedules will take some time to return to normal.
"After five days without flights, tens of thousands of passengers waiting to be repatriated and the ash cloud continuing to cover parts of Europe, significant disruption is likely before normal operations are resumed.
"We would like to thank passengers for their continued patience and understanding since this situation began on Thursday 15 April."
More than 200,000 passengers have been hit at Manchester Airport as the crisis moved into its fifth day.
Volcanic ash latest: Useful websites, Twitter links and your questions answered
But now the effects are being felt elsewhere. Schools reopening today after the Easter break are expecting scores of teachers and pupils to be missing – still stranded abroad.
And superstores say they are carefully monitoring the situation, amid fears that shelves may soon become empty of food which is usually flown in to the country. Medicine supplies could also be hit if the flights-ban remains in place for days to come.
A huge cloud of ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano remains over much of northern Europe and it is deemed to dangerous for planes to fly across the continent.
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if you have made an epic journey because of the ash cloud.
Desperate travellers have been paying hundreds of pounds to get taxis from Manchester Airport to the Channel ports. And one group of businessmen has booked a taxi to take them to Madrid later this week.
Gordon Brown held an emergency 85-minute summit with cabinet members last night to discuss the crisis.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport estimated around 200,000 passengers who had been due to fly in or out of the airport had been affected by the cloud since Thursday morning. A total of 60,000 flights across Europe have been grounded.
Coun John Warmisham, Salford council's education spokesman, said he expected pupils or teachers to have been left stranded abroad.
He said: “If you have teachers away we will have to look at getting in cover.
“If children are still abroad you have to ask whether that will have any effect on their education. You don't know how long they will be stuck out there. This cloud isn't moving and this could go into next week. It's a concern.”
Stranded
Martin Ward, the deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “No doubt many schools will be short staffed because of teachers being stranded abroad.
“However, except in very small schools, this hopefully will not cause major disruption as schools have good contingency plans in place to cope with teacher absence. “
A spokesman for Tesco said: “Fewer than 1 per cent of our products are air-freighted. Those that are include orchids, chillies and some exotic fruit.
“Where possible we're using alternative routes to bring these products to the UK, for example by road and rail from airports which remain open in Europe.”
An Asda spokesman said: “We're not worried yet. If it carries on for another week, it would be more of an issue.”
Contact the MEN newsdesk on 0161-211-2468 or email
newsdesk@men-news.co.uk if you have made an epic journey because of the ash cloud.
Comments
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And the good news is, I have been able to listen to the telly and answer the phone without having to close the double glazed windows. I can also sit in my back garden without having to inhale the exhaust and split fuel stench that Manchester Airport is renowned for.
Hope for a long and fruitful life to my dear friend Eyjafjallajoekull.
God bless you.
Strikes me that Iceland is becoming a bloody nuisance what with the banks and now this, then there was the cod affair. We should cut it off from Europe and push it out into the Atlantic.
Dick Turpin: You must have noticed the airport was there when you bought the house. If you don't like it move.
Dick Turpin - What an odd choice to live by something you despise so much?
Personally i feel sorry for all involved, Holiday makers, troops and businesses alike.
Dick Turpin: You must have noticed the airport was there when you bought the house. If you don't like it move.
David Cameron's Lucky Pants, on the steps of No 10!"
Not sure he said he didn't like living there, do you have kids and say ahh nice to have a bit of piece and quite? nobody tell you to get rid of them if you don't like them do they?
How do you all know that Dick Turpin is not a 14year old living without choice with his parents
lovinthebanter, Manchester - You do make good points there, especially your first one.
Anyway heres hoping things get back to normal soon for all involved. i wouldnt want to start panic buying my Kiwi fruit.
I am due to fly two weeks today to get married :-( I'm praying!!
and i agree.....Dick Turpin.....why live by something you clearly have such a problem with?
So they are sending three war ships to bring stranded holiday makers home!
If they can make it to the Chanel PUT YOUR TRUNKS ON AND SWIM. We've gone soft us.
i have had my holiday cancelled because of this.
i am very upset.
To all concerned.
I have been living here since Manchester Airport then known as Ringway use to give trips in a Dragon Rapide for about seven and six in old money ( 37.5 new pence for those that are still wet behind the ears). Going plane spotting consisted of going to the airport and waiting about six hours for a plane to arrive. I was merely pointing out how the airport has effected the area around it and some of the bad points that I could well do without and didn't realise how bad it was until we have had a complete shut down.
I was due to fly out on Saturday - obviously didn't happen so went to the Travel Agents and got a full refund. Will simply re-book again as soon as the flight ban has been lifted.
CharlieBaker, Manchester
I am due to fly two weeks today to get married :-( I'm praying!!
What, praying that you won't be able to fly?
It's nice & quiet where I live and there are no contrails to block out the sun - lovely!
I'm so glad the Airport is loosing money. they will have to put the bottles of water up again to £3 now. Greedy Greedy Airport. and delighted the Black cab drivers are grounded has well. they will just have to go to bed for a few days... Ha Ha.
"and delighted the Black cab drivers are grounded has well. they will just have to go to bed for a few days... Ha Ha. "
I know the cheeky blighters, its their own fault for wanting to support themselves and their families by working for a living.
Dick Turpin .... I agree with your sentiments, they could also close the motorways that have split Wythenshawe in two, I also remember the times (very recent) when I could awake without the constant drone coming from the M60 & M56 .
The expansion of both needs to be reversed, doing so would promote sustainable communities providing local employment and producing local food.
Globalisation sucks, it's detrimental to the environment, health and overall quality of life .... except for immigrants of course.
it has been pleasant without the planes going overhead, like dick turpin ive lived around Cheshire all my life and i too remember the airport as ringway with few planes each day. if i had known even just 20 years ago how bad the airport would get i would not have settled here but its too late now to move before retirement. what does seem surprising is that its mainly the holiday makers that are kicking up all the fuss, business users have simply used other methods such as trains and ferries or the internet for worldwide business where possible.
i know full well its not pleasant having plans disrupted but this is a volcano that's spewed billions of tons of dust in to the air, its well documented that this dust can destroy a planes engines resulting in the plane falling from the sky, it beggars belief that people are willing to risk this for the sake of two weeks in the sun !. personally i would rather go without the holiday or do as i have for years and go by sea.
Dick
Your disruption has grown gradually. We had the M60 thrust upon us.
I am due to fly out to orlando international next week! so im keeping my fingers crossed!
I am sad to say i'm not surprised by the governments lack of action in trying to get people home, I do worry that they have decided today to send a warship to collect the troops, yes the troops need to come home, however how long is this likely to last???
Is it time for some truth from our politicians, we can handle it Brown.
Stevedore Quayside.....praying I will have a wedding of course. Don't want to fly if unsafe goes without saying, but will be devastated if wedding has to be cancelled & loose all our money, saved for years for our day :-(
"Strikes me that Iceland is becoming a bloody nuisance what with the banks and now this, then there was the cod affair. We should cut it off from Europe and push it out into the Atlantic. "
I wholly agree!! I'm due to fly to New York in 3 weeks (fingers crossed) and wouldnt want my holiday cancelled
CharlieBaker, Manchester
Stevedore Quayside.....praying I will have a wedding of course. Don't want to fly if unsafe goes without saying, but will be devastated if wedding has to be cancelled & loose all our money, saved for years for our day :-(
My comment was made with tongue in cheek. I hope that you do make it to your wedding and I also hope that you have a great day. Best wishes.