The Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Transport has told MPs that the country is better prepared to deal with future disruptions caused by volcanic ash.
Professor Brian Collins gave evidence to the Science and Technology Committee on 3 November 2010 as part of an inquiry into the flight chaos following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland in Spring 2010.
He said the UK was already prepared individual areas, but that this year's chaos showed how the different departments needed to work together.
Meanwhile Dr Miles Parker from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was impossible to say if there would be similar disruption the future.
Flights across the UK and Western Europe were disrupted following the volcanic ash cloud.
Flights were suspended due to fears that ash could clog up engines - despite claims from some airline operators that there was no risk.
Ray Elgy from the Civil Aviation Authority told the committee that there had been at least eight instances of planes being damaged by volcanic ash. He said there were no fatal accidents but "some very near misses".
There has been an ongoing battle for compensation for passengers who were affected by the disruption.
Under EU rules, European airlines must pick up the bill for their passengers' hotel and food bills while stranded.
The UK's leading airline operator, BAA, said that the closure of airports cost over £28m.
MPs on the committee want to establish how scientific advice was used by the government to establish policy, and how different organisations worked together.
Evidence was also taken from:
• Dr Guy Gratton, Royal Aeronautical Society
• Dr Sue Loughlin, British Geological Survey
• Captain Tim Steeds, British Airways
• Professor Julia Slingo, Met Office
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