American Airlines had said Tuesday that it would restore all service to the UK and Europe today. It didn't work out that way.
Lots of American jets are back in the trans-Atlantic sky as we speak. But RDU's round-trip to London Heathrow will not join them until Thursday.
"The RDU flights to London are not operating today, but they should be tomorrow," an American spokeswoman said by phone from Fort Worth this morning. "It's due to aircraft being out of place. It's positioning."
If you check American's flight status page (www.aa.com/gates/) you'll find Wednesday's RDU-LHR flights marked canceled, and Thursday's marked "on time." AA 173 is scheduled to arrive Thursday at 4:05 p.m., and AA 174 is scheduled to depart at 6:15 p.m.
Today is the seventh day American canceled its RDU-Heathrow flights because of hazards posed to jet engines by volcanic dust drifting across Europe from Iceland.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the