When Can We Fly Again?

Millions of people are stranded in Europe waiting to fly home, but the airlines are still stranded. However, it seems that a few airports will be allowed to open with limited traffic:

Carry-On...

...Nothing to fee here.

The top five airlines in the US have agreed to not charge for carry-on bags:

ATLANTA -- Five major U.S. airlines agreed Sunday not to follow the lead of a small Florida carrier that plans to charge for carry-on bags. Their commitment comes just in time to cool traveler outrage before the peak summer flying season, but it is doubtful that it marks a change in strategy.

It still doesn't make up for the outrageous fees charged for checked bags.

Grounded

European Airlines and Airports are growing frustrated with the continued air ban:

The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. Airlines are estimated to be losing some £130m ($200m) a day.
The two airline bodies, ACI Europe and AEA, said: "The eruption of the Icelandic volcano is not an unprecedented event and the procedures applied in other parts of the world for volcanic eruptions do not appear to require the kind of restrictions that are presently being imposed in Europe."

A few airlines have done tests:

Germany's two biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, also said they had carried out test flights without apparent damage, as did Air France.

While the airlines are losing an obscene amount of money because of the flight bans, it's important to keep its passengers safe. Perhaps there should be an independent group that tests the skies. It's about time they started flying again.