UK airspace began to reopen in a ‘phased operation’ from 10pm tonight.

The Civil Aviation Authority’s chairman Dame Deirdre Hutton announced the all-clear for UK airports, which meant Leeds-Bradford was expected to resume flights tomorrow morning.

It also means flights to return some of the estimated 150,000 UK citizens stranded abroad are now under way.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said all British airports could reopen and he expected them to remain open.

A spokesman for BAA, which operates Heathrow, said it would do everything possible to “get people moving”.

“We are ready to open, but until further notice passengers must contact their airline before travelling to the airport,” the spokesman said. “Not all flights will operate during the early period of opening.”

Meanwhile, there was delight and relief for airline passengers arriving back at Leeds-Bradford International Airport by bus earlier this evening.

People arriving at the Yeadon airport on coaches from mainland Europe were greeted on the concourse by relatives.

Low-cost airline Jet2.com has hired 90 coaches to bring passengers back from a range of European destinations.

Today, 19 coaches returned more than 1,500 from Barcelona, Alicante, Murcia, Malaga and Lanzarote to Leeds-Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle airports.

A further 3,000 are expected to return home via coach and ferry over the next few days. Among the first to arrive back yesterday was a bus carrying the Kirklees Swimming Club, which had been at a training camp near Barcelona.

Martin Mosey, the team’s coach, said: “It has been a 27-hour coach journey, pretty much non-stop.”

Team member Mia Green, 12, who lives in Gomersal and attends Heckmondwike Grammar School, said: “It has been awesome. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would.”

Her mother Lisa Green said: “It’s brilliant to have her back.”

After the long journey, some passengers headed straight for the airport bar.

Marilyn Jones, from Otley, enjoying a glass of red wine, said: “We really feel as though we have been rescued.”