Gatwick Airport has now officially reopened, almost six days after an Icelandic volcanic eruption caused a dust cloud which closed UK airspace.
At about 10pm, the airport announced the BA777 from Orlando had landed.
Early this afternoon, Southern Trains said it had received unconfirmed reports the airport may be opening sooner than anticipated.
An airport spokeswoman said while flight restrictions remain in place, officials were at the airport now to work out what will happen when they are lifted.
Now, after test flights showed planes could stand the volcanic ash, Gatwick and all UK airports are now reopening.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it was a “situation without precedent” and that decisions had been made based on “thorough gathering of data and analysis”.
I WAS ON THE FIRST EVER FLIGHT TO LAND IN GATWICK..THE 777 FROM ORLANDO… JUST GLAD THEY DIDNT TELL US WE WERE THE FIRST UNTIL WE ALL CHEEERED ON LANDING!!