See BBC:
UK offers airlines aid
The UK government has announced a £40m compensation package for UK airlines following the 11 September attacks.
The money will cover lost revenue for the period during which American airspace was closed, including additional costs of dealing with passengers stranded at the wrong airports.
The Transport Secretary Stephen Byers said "the circumstances ... are indeed exceptional and therefore merit exceptional assistance."
The aid package is part of a pan-European agreement not to subsidise airlines beyond the immediate effects of the terrorist attacks.
The package, Mr Byers said, would "help airlines at a time when passenger numbers on services between the UK and US, and therefore revenues, are still significantly below their pre-11 September levels".
Airlines can submit claims under the scheme immediately, Mr Byers said.
Of course, and as always, the UK PLC cavalry has arrived too late to rescue some deserving cases.
