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Source: Reuters -
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Relief could be on the way for millions of stranded travellers around the world, including thousands of Kiwis trapped overseas, desperately trying to get home.
Flights are set to resume from major airports in large parts of Europe, but the danger is far from over as a volcano in Iceland spews out even more ash, potentially causing further disruption.
Details are changing by the hour, but as of Tuesday, Europe is being divided into three zones - open skies, a so-called caution zone, where some flights will be permitted and a much smaller no-fly zone than we have previously seen.
A handful of airlines, including German airline Lufthansa and Dutch carrier KLM were back in the air on Tuesday after five days being grounded.
However Air New Zealand continues to strongly advise passengers with travel plans to affected parts of the UK and Europe to not commence their travel just yet.
Hotels have been booked out in Hong Kong and Los Angeles and the airline says passengers heading off against its advice will have trouble finding accommodation.
If they are stranded overseas part way through their journey, they will have to pay their own way.
Passengers can defer the travel without penalty or apply for a full refund if they decide not to travel, the airline says.
Meanwhile, Kiwis playing the waiting game are flooding travel agents and insurance companies back home with SOS calls.
More than 2000 passengers are stranded in New Zealand and it is believed the backlog could take two weeks to clear.
Air New Zealand will not say just how big that backlog is, but is looking into deploying additional aircraft to clear it once airspace re-opens.
Even some of our sports people are caught up in the chaos, the New Zealand handball team stranded in Germany ahead of a tournament in Turkey.
As for foreigners stuck here, offers of help are flooding in on a Facebook page, with everything from spare rooms and caravans, to free facials and comedy fest tickets being offered.
Not feeling so generous is Immigration New Zealand, where its "business as usual" approach requires stranded foreigners to extend expiring visas.
