RE-THINK DECISION TO CANCEL FLIGHTS DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH, SAYS IATA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) - The International Air Transport
Association (IATA) has sharply criticised European governments for their lack of
leadership in handling airspace restrictions in light of the Icelandic volcano
eruption and urged a re-think of the decision-making process.

The Geneva-based IATA also took to task governments for resorting to blanket
closures of airspace and described as incredible European transport ministers
for taking five days to organise a teleconference to discuss the matter which
has paralysed air travel in most parts of northern Europe.

"We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how
governments have managed it with no risk assessment, no consultation, no
coordination, and no leadership," IATA said in a strongly-worded statement
issued from Paris Monday.

It said the crisis was costing airlines at least US$200 million a day
in lost revenues and the European economy was suffering billions of dollars in
lost business.

Numerous flights from Kuala Lumpur to certain European destinations,
especially London, Paris and Amsterdam, have also been cancelled until further
notice.

"In the face of such dire economic consequences, it is incredible that
Europe’s transport ministers have taken five days to organise a teleconference,"
said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer.

"Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can
safely re-open Europe’s skies. This means decisions based on risk-management,
facts and utilising operational procedures that maintain safety,” said
Bisignani.

IATA criticised Europe’s unique methodology of closing airspace based on
theoretical modelling of the ash cloud.

"This means governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear
decisions based on facts. Instead, it has been the air navigation service
providers who announced that they would not provide service. And these decisions
have been taken without adequately consulting the airlines.

"This is not an acceptable system particularly when the consequences for
safety and the economy are so large," said Bisignani.

"Safety is our top priority. Airlines will not fly if it is not safe. I
have
consulted our member airlines that normally operate in the affected airspace.

"They report missed opportunities to fly safely. The European system results
in blanket closures of airspace. I challenge governments to agree on ways to
flexibly re-open airspace. Risk assessments should be able to help us re-open
certain corridors, if not entire airspaces," said Bisignani.

To assist governments in assessing risk, airlines have conducted successful
test flights in several European countries.

The results have not shown any irregularities or safety issues. Airlines are
also exploring various operational measures to maintain safe operations.

These include day flights, restrictions to specific flight corridors,
special climb and descent procedures, and more frequent detailed boroscopic
engine inspections to detect damage.


The scale of airspace closures currently seen in Europe is unprecedented.

"We have seen volcanic activity in many parts of the world but rarely has it
resulted in airspace closures and never at this scale.

"When Mount St Helens erupted in the US in 1980, we did not see large
scale disruptions because the decisions to open or close airspace were risk
managed with no compromise on safety," said Bisignani, who urged Eurocontrol to
establish a volcano contingency centre capable of making coordinated decisions.

Bisignani called for an urgent meeting of the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO), the specialised agency of the UN, to define government
responsibility for the decisions to open or close airspace in a coordinated and
effective way based on real data and special operating procedures.

-- BERNAMA