A GLANCE skyward first thing yesterday morning showed international jets had resumed their giant game of vapour trail noughts and crosses.

And within a few hours, the increasingly hazy skies were at last filled with the lazy drone of UK-bound aircraft.

Islanders could be forgiven for thinking that everything in the air had rapidly returned to normal.

Except, for hundreds of travellers and their families, this is only the beginning of the end.

With thousands of air crew and hundreds of planes in the wrong spots, yesterday was relatively quiet even at London airports.

It will take time for the air industry to get off its knees.

During that process, however, airports and airlines must make every effort to do so without inconveniencing their customers for a minute longer than necessary.

For, as can be seen by local passengers’ reaction to the delayed resumption of UK flights from Guernsey yesterday, the stoical approach taken by many people to the disruption caused by an Icelandic volcano will disappear the instant they feel not everything possible is being done.

As promised a week ago, both the airport and the carriers now have to go the extra mile to satisfy their customers.

Longer opening hours, extra flights, more information, support on the ground – all of these will help travellers put what has been a nightmare experience in the past.

Only once the dust has settled and the huge backlog has been cleared can the focus for airlines shift to claims for compensation. If, however, the safety authorities have been over-cautious, at least it is better than the opposite.

As part of their efforts to keep passengers informed, airlines must remember that not every islander is web-literate with ready access to a computer screen and mobile.

Technology has been a wonderful boost to the travel experience with the ability to check in online and watch flights progress from home but, for many people, it is not yet a replacement for someone helpful on the end of a telephone line.