European Flights Begin Taking Off Again

London's Heathrow Airport—Europe's busiest—reopened today as air traffic across the continent lurched back to life. But the gridlock created by Iceland's volcanic ash plume was far from over: Officials said it would be weeks before all stranded travelers could be brought home. Passengers wept with relief as flights took off from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Amsterdam, and elsewhere.

A jetliner from Vancouver was the first to land at Heathrow since the volcano erupted last week. British Airways said it expected about two dozen flights from the United States, Africa and Asia to land by early tomorrow. The Eurocontrol air traffic agency predicted close to normal takeoffs by Friday. (More Iceland volcano stories.)