European airline operations remain seriously disrupted by the eruption of the Icelandic Eyjafjallajokull volcano, and there is uncertainty over the duration of the airspace closures resulting from the ash cloud.

Typically the European air navigation organisation Eurocontrol's Central Flow Management Unit, which balances capacity against demand, handles some 29,000 daily flights. But the precautionary closures have heavily reduced the air traffic, particularly across northern Europe.

Latest situation update:

■ IATA estimates “conservative” financial impact on airlines is in excess of $200 million per day in lost revenues. Airlines will incur added costs for re-routing of aircraft, care for stranded passengers, and stranded aircraft.

■ Association of European Airlines: "No-one questions that volcanic ash poses a threat to safety. The air travel industry has well-established procedures to deal with such extraordinary events knowing that no compromises can be made on safety."

■ European Regions Airline Association: “Air passengers should have the same legal rights as other transport users. ERA can see no justification for singling out air passengers as in need of different legal protection compared to, for example, rail passengers.”

■ Maastricht upper and Karlsruhe airspace open

■ French and Romanian airspace open above FL355

■ Eurocontrol expects 5,000 flights on 17 April against 22,000 normally