Air traffic control allows some flights from northern Germany

Germany loosens flight restrictions slightly

BERLIN — German air traffic control slightly loosened its ban on flights from the country Sunday, allowing some traffic at Frankfurt and airports in the north.

The air traffic control agency said flights from Frankfurt and the smaller Hahn airport nearby would be allowed until 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) — but only for planes heading to some destinations to the north.

Berlin, Hannover, Erfurt and Leipzig were allowed to until 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) Sunday — but only for some planes headed eastward.

The agency said it was acting on the basis of weather forecasts from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in London. Restrictions on Hamburg airport initially were lifted as well, but that decision was swiftly reversed.

All other German airports, including Munich, remain closed until at least 1800 GMT.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many flights might be able to depart. Air Berlin and Lufthansa already have canceled all flights until at least that time.

There was no immediate sign of activity at Berlin’s Tegel airport.