Disruption cloud still hangs over continent
Source: Agencies |
April 19, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DISRUPTION of air traffic due to the spread of volcanic ash from Iceland worsened yesterday and only 4,000 flights were expected in European air space against 24,000 normally, Eurocontrol said.
The European aviation control agency reported the figures, which compared with 4,886 flights on Saturday. It said 63,000 flights had been cancelled in European air space since last Thursday.
Air traffic control services were not being provided in most European air space, but flights were taking place in southern Europe, including parts of Spain and Portugal, the southern Balkans, southern Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, it said.
"Unfortunately the situation has deteriorated somewhat more today," Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations at Eurocontrol, told Reuters Television yesterday.
"The geographical area that is at potential risk from the volcanic ash cloud has slightly extended to extend further south down through to parts of France, Italy and even further southeast."
'Frustration'
Asked about criticism by German airlines that aviation authorities were not taking more account of test flights carried out to assess the safety of flying through the ash cloud, he said it was a decision for aviation officials.
"I can understand the frustration of the personnel of Lufthansa as everybody else who is affected by this," he said. "The information that is coming from the test flights is being analyzed by all persons concerned.
"But the guidelines that are being followed by all the aviation community are that the safe operation of civilian aircraft can only take place where there is absolutely no risk of potential ash cloud."
Flynn said the models that being used by everybody at the moment showed that there was a potential risk. And for that reason the airport closures had been made.
"As soon as we are able to, with confidence, and when I say we, I mean the entire community of aviation experts, aviation authorities, are able to declare parts of the air space and airports open, that will be done," he said.
"It is decision of each state and we are in the process of coordinating everybody in the community together.
"The Germans, as the others, are doing their utmost to determine there is no risk to the passenger and that has to be their prime concern."
The European aviation control agency reported the figures, which compared with 4,886 flights on Saturday. It said 63,000 flights had been cancelled in European air space since last Thursday.
Air traffic control services were not being provided in most European air space, but flights were taking place in southern Europe, including parts of Spain and Portugal, the southern Balkans, southern Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, it said.
"Unfortunately the situation has deteriorated somewhat more today," Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations at Eurocontrol, told Reuters Television yesterday.
"The geographical area that is at potential risk from the volcanic ash cloud has slightly extended to extend further south down through to parts of France, Italy and even further southeast."
'Frustration'
Asked about criticism by German airlines that aviation authorities were not taking more account of test flights carried out to assess the safety of flying through the ash cloud, he said it was a decision for aviation officials.
"I can understand the frustration of the personnel of Lufthansa as everybody else who is affected by this," he said. "The information that is coming from the test flights is being analyzed by all persons concerned.
"But the guidelines that are being followed by all the aviation community are that the safe operation of civilian aircraft can only take place where there is absolutely no risk of potential ash cloud."
Flynn said the models that being used by everybody at the moment showed that there was a potential risk. And for that reason the airport closures had been made.
"As soon as we are able to, with confidence, and when I say we, I mean the entire community of aviation experts, aviation authorities, are able to declare parts of the air space and airports open, that will be done," he said.
"It is decision of each state and we are in the process of coordinating everybody in the community together.
"The Germans, as the others, are doing their utmost to determine there is no risk to the passenger and that has to be their prime concern."
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