Ash cloud spares Cannes, Moroccan airports reopen

The Cannes Film Festival opens Wednesday without feared disruption by the volcanic ash cloud that has caused havoc in Europe's airspace. Moroccan and Spanish airports have reopened.

AFP

The film world's in-crowd are arriving in Cannes on Wednesday, despite fears that the nearest airport, Nice, would be closed.

Flights were cancelled at the Riviera's main airport at the weekend but the ash cloud from Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano has moved away from French airspace.

Morocco has reopened all its airports, according to Royal Air Maroc, after closing them on Tuesday as the cloud affected Africa for the first time.

Spain's Aena air traffic control agency also reports all airports open, after some airports in the south and on the Canary islands were closed Tuesday.

Turkey was again affected Tuesday with some flights banned but Istanbul's Ataturk airport appears to have returned to normal Wednesday.