Asia-Pacific

Flights back to normal in Istanbul

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-21 23:07

ISTANBU - International flights scheduled from Istanbul are now getting back to normal after the volcanic activities in Iceland calmed down and European airports reopened, Turkish officials said on Wednesday.

Flights bound for many European cities, such as Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Manchester, Dusseldorf and London, have restarted early on Wednesday, officials of the airport authority said.

The semi-official Anatolia news agency quoted Turkish Airlines officials as saying that all European airports are now open and all flights scheduled for Wednesday will be made.

More than 700 international flights were cancelled at Istanbul' s Ataturk Airport between April 15-19, due to volcanic ash cloud caused by the recent eruption of an Icelandic volcano.

The recent eruptions of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in southeast Iceland caused a giant ash cloud that prevailed over Europe for the last couple of days, leading to flight cancellations in the majority part of the continent.

Volcanic ash contains tiny particles of glass and pulverized rock that can damage engines and airframes.