EU air sector loses €2.5bn from volcano eruption

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, presented a preliminary assessment of the economic consequences for the air transport industry of the April 2010 volcanic ash crisis on the 27 April 2010. In addition the Vice President presented a range of possible short-term actions and structural measures to help the air transport industry overcome the unprecedented period.

Faced with this crisis, the first priority of the Commission was to intervene to facilitate the opening of airspace under strict safety conditions so that millions of stranded passengers could get home and to ensure that EU passenger rights are fully respected.

Now that the situation has normalised, the focus would be on a package of short-term and structural measures for the air transport industry, which would be proposed in association with Vice-President Almunia (competition and state aid) and Commissioner Rehn (economic and monetary affairs).

European Commission: MEMO/10/152: Volcanic ash cloud crisis: Commission outlines response to tackle the impact on air transport http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/152&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

ESO: Background information: Renewed call for unified air traffic system http://www.europeansources.info/record/renewed-call-for-unified-air-traffic-system/

ESO: Background information: Iceland volcano grounds European flights http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-volcano-grounds-european-flights/

BBC News, 27.4.10: Volcano ash: Europe puts pressure on airlines http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8645981.stm

EurActiv, 28.4.10: EU favours night flights to counter air traffic chaos http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/eu-favours-night-flights-counter-air-traffic-chaos-news-488389

Eurocontrol: Volcanic Ash Cloud Timeline http://www.eurocontrol.int/corporate/public/standard_page/volcanic_ash_cloud_chronology.html

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