Volcanic ash cloud sparks more travel chaos

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LONDON, Apr 18 (AFP): A volcanic ash cloud tightened its powerful grip over Europe's skies Sunday, but amid a fourth day of travel misery for millions airlines pressed for a quick end to the chaos inflicting huge new losses.
Most of Europe remains a virtual no-fly zone, with about 30 countries closing or restricting airspace amid safety fears over the cloud of ash coming from an Icelandic volcano.
Europe's three biggest airports -- London Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt -- remained shut, leaving passengers stranded around the world as a global flight backlog grows. New closures and restrictions were announced or extended into Monday.
But Dutch airline KLM staged a new test flight Sunday after a jet "safely" took off and landed on Saturday. German carrier Lufthansa also carried out test flights and there has been mounting airline criticism of the government action to brutally close down air space.
Lufthansa and Air Berlin, said the decision to ban flights was ordered without proper testing and that their aircraft showed no signs of damage after the test flights.
The enormous shroud of fine mineral dust particles now stretches from the Arctic Circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south, and from Spain into Russia.
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific airlines cancelled dozens of European flights for a third day Sunday and warned that chaos caused by a freak volcanic ash cloud could last for a week.
Australia's Qantas Airways grounded all flights on Sunday and then extended the ban until Tuesday afternoon, as the Icelandic cloud continued to paralyse European airports.
The airport and airlines have set aside special areas for stranded passengers to eat and sleep and are trying to provide them with free meals, sleeping bags and even tours of the city.