IATA slams Europe

Aviation association IATA on Tuesday slammed European governments for their handling of the volcanic ash crisis, saying the decisions to close airspace had been neither effective nor consistent.

Its criticism follows cancellation of 1,000 flights on Monday.

"The current European-wide system to decide on airspace closures is not working," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the International Air Transport Association.

"We have lost confidence in the ability of Europe's governments to make effective and consistent decisions. Using the same data, different countries have come to different conclusions on opening or closing airspace," he added.

Thick ash from Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano, which in April shut down much of Europe's airspace for a week, drifted over the continent Monday, closing major airports again.

Bisignani acknowledged that since volcanic ash was a "new challenge" for aviation, it was understandable that new systems had to be developed.

"But what is absolutely inexcusable is the failure of Europe's governments to act urgently and collectively to provide real leadership in a crisis," he said.

Bisignani noted that Britain was "moving in the right direction" after aviation regulators decided to introduce new measures from Tuesday that will to allow flights in thicker ash than previously permitted for a certain amount of time.

The new area - called a time-limited zone - was created after discussions between regulators and manufacturers, said regulator the Civil Aviation Authority.

- AFP