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Airlines face a "huge logistical operation" as tens of thousands of Britons aim to take to the skies after a flight ban was ended, experts warn.Planes have landed at UK airports for the first time in six days after the flight ban due to a volcanic ash cloud.
The Civil Aviation Authority approved a phased reopening of airspace because it said safety tests showed plane engines could cope in areas of low density ash.
Travel body Abta said it would be some time before normal schedules resume.
It said this was partly because so many planes and crew were displaced from where they needed to be to pick up operations smoothly.
BAA, which operates many of the UK's airports, said people should contact their airlines before travelling to an airport for a flight.
• British Airways said it was looking to operate all long-haul flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick on Wednesday
It said there would be short-haul cancellations to and from London airports until 1300 BST on Wednesday, and possibly beyond that time
• Virgin Atlantic said it planned to operate its normal flying schedule in and out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester on Wednesday. There may be a small number of delays, it added
• Easyjet said it planned to resume "some services" across the UK and Europe on Wednesday morning
• Emirates said it hoped to operate most of its services from the UK to Dubai
• Other airlines advised passengers to contact them or check their website for updates
Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel agents' organisation Abta, said: "We don't know whether this is going to be a temporary situation or a permanent one.
"We don't know what is going to happen with the eruption so there is that to consider.
"The other thing to remember is that aircraft and crew are going to be in the wrong place.
"I know for example that some of our tour operators have decided to cancel their programmes going out of the UK in order that they can try to reposition their aircraft and crew. It's a huge logistical operation."
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said it would take weeks to get back to normal levels of operation.
"We're now at British Airways going to start the difficult task of getting our stranded customers back home. I think this is an airlift that is unprecedented but we will make every effort to get our people back home," he said.
As tens of thousands of Britons prepare to return home, the UK Border Agency warned people to expect long queues at passport controls as staff attempted to process large numbers of returning travellers.
A spokesman said: "We are manning as many passport desks as possible."
With uncertainty about how many planes would take to the skies - and how many of them would have spare capacity to help clear the backlog of the past six days - contingency plans to get Britons home by other means are still in place.
BBC News correspondent Jonny Dymond in Madrid says the UK government's plans to charter 150 coaches for citizens flying in to the Spanish capital from long-haul destinations was going ahead.
Ministers planned to use Madrid as a hub to get people back to the UK.
He said Foreign Office advice to people stranded in Europe remained to attempt to reach French Channel ports.
After the lifting of the flight restrictions, the first British Airways plane to touch down at Heathrow was a service already in the air from Vancouver, which landed shortly before 2200 BST.
The first passenger off flight BA84 was Neil Rogers, from Little London, near Reading, who said the atmosphere on board was "great".
"It's good to be back. It's quite something to be the first back," he said.
Asked about the volcanic ash, he said: "It's one of those things you can't do anything about.
"As we were coming into land I was quite concerned as we were coming through the cloud."
Among among early arrivals at Heathrow was TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn Bowen who had been on holiday with his family in Mauritius.
English football teams Liverpool and Fulham are en route to Europa League semi-final ties in Europe on Thursday, having started their journeys before the restrictions were lifted.
Liverpool have reached Paris over land, and may now fly the rest of the way to play Atletico Madrid, and Fulham are travelling by coach to Hamburg.
Some of the two clubs' fans had already set off on the long journey to make it to the matches on the continent but others will now be able to check whether their original plans to fly to Madrid or Hamburg can still be realised.
The restrictions were lifted after the Civil Aviation Authority said its safety tests showed plane engines had "increased tolerance levels in low ash density areas".
Some restrictions will remain on flights in UK airspace, but they will be much less stringent than before.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis denied the decision to reopen airspace was the result of pressure from the airline industry. But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said Labour's "misjudgement and mismanagement" had "badly let down" the travelling public.
Flights have been grounded across the UK and much of Europe since Thursday following the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
The eruption sent vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere which poses a threat to aircraft jet engines.
Despite the lifting of the ban, it will be some time before flights return to normal.
An estimated 150,000 Britons have been stranded abroad during the six-day shutdown of UK airspace to commercial flights.
Anyone concerned about the safety of a British national who is still stranded abroad can call a Foreign Office helpline on 020 7008 0000, or visit itswebsite.
Stranded Britons should contact their local embassy, high commission or consulate.
Are you due to fly today? Have you made it to your destination? Or are you still stranded? Are you an airline staff member? Send us your comments.
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