Ash cloud chaos: Recriminations over Europe flight ban

There have been bitter recriminations over the almost week-long closure of large parts of European airspace because of volcanic ash from Iceland.

Airlines are seeking compensation from governments over the unprecedented shutdown, which they say cost them $1.7bn (£1.1bn).

But scientists have said regulators had few options beyond flight bans.

The air traffic agency Eurocontrol says it expects European flights to be back to "almost 100%" on Thursday.

A Eurocontrol spokeswoman said nearly all of the continent's 28,000 scheduled flights, including more than 300 flights on transatlantic routes, were expected to proceed. On Wednesday, about 80% of flights took place.

Airlines are clearing the backlog of uncompleted journeys, but thousands of travellers remain stranded around the world.

Six days after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland triggered the first airspace closures, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticised the bans.

"For an industry that lost $9.4bn last year and was forecast to lose a further $2.8bn in 2010, this crisis is devastating," IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani said.

"Airspace was being closed based on theoretical models, not on facts."

Mr Bisignani said the situation had been exacerbated by "poor decision-making" from governments and called on them to compensate airlines, something which the European Commission has said it is considering.

"I am the first one to say that this industry does not want or need bailouts. But this crisis is not the result of running our business badly," he added.

'Absurd'

Some airlines are also demanding changes to EU passenger compensation rules, which require them to provide accommodation for those prevented from flying.

Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of the low-cost carrier Ryanair, had said it was "absurd" that his firm had to spend thousands of euros on someone whose ticket might have cost only a few euros.