EMIRATES LOSING US$10 MLN A DAY DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH CRISIS

DUBAI, April 19 (Bernama) -- The ongoing volcanic ash phenomenon which has
thrown European air travel into chaos, has already cost Emirates Airline US$50
million.

The Dubai-based carrier said it was losing revenue from 18,000 passengers a
day as airspace across the United Kingdom and much of Europe remained closed.

Around 30 Emirates aircraft were grounded, equivalent to one fifth of the
fleet, a company statement said, adding that over 80,000 passengers had been
impacted by the ongoing disruption.

"Like every carrier operating to Europe, Emirates is facing huge losses,
US$10 million a day in our case," Emirates Airline President Tim Clark was
quoted as saying in the statement.

"These are losses which are coming straight out of our own pocket. But
despite this not being a crisis of our own making, we're doing everything
possible to minimise the impact on customers," he said.

The airline boss said the scale of the crisis was unlike anything he had
experienced in his career.

Clark said Emirates would continue to provide hotel accommodation for all
passengers who were in transit in Dubai when the disruption began.

"We'll also do everything we can to get our operation moving quickly once
approval to fly has been received," he added.

Currently, Emirates is not accepting passengers for travel to any European
destinations, excluding Moscow, Athens, Larnaca, Malta and Istanbul, until April
20.

The airline is providing accommodation and three meals per day for
approximately 6,000 passengers who were in transit, when the disruption began,
at a cost of more than US$1 million per day.

Customers affected by the disruption can cancel their booking or change
their onward destination without charge.

Emirates has waived all re-issue and cancellation fees while the crisis is
ongoing.

-- BERNAMA



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