Brussels, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Thursday 15 April, the European Commission says that air passenger rights continue to apply despite the fact that the suspension of flights in northern and central Europe was caused by exceptional circumstances. Passengers will not, however, be able to claim the additional compensation to which they are entitled when cancellation or delay is due to the airline.
Travellers whose flights have been cancelled because of the volcanic dust cloud will still have: - the right to receive information from airlines (for example, on passenger rights, how the situation is developing, cancellations and length of delays); - the right to care (meals, refreshments and, if necessary, accommodation); - the right to choose between reimbursement of fares or being re-routed to their final destination. Air traffic in Europe was severely disrupted in Europe on Thursday and Friday as a cloud of ash from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull was blown south and east. According to Eurocontrol, more than 50% of flights were cancelled in Europe on Friday. In the morning, Eurocontrol estimated that around 11,000 flights would take place in Europe when there would, in normal circumstances, be 28,000. The previous day, there were 20,334 flights. It is forecast that the volcanic cloud will continue to move south and south-east for at least a further 24 hours. Irish, UK, Belgian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian and Polish airspaces have all been closed. In Poland, however, the airport at Rzeszów in the south of the country has remained open, with numerous heads of state expected for the funeral of the late President and his wife on Sunday. The north of France, including Paris, and parts of Germany, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, have also been affected. More than half of all transatlantic flights were also cancelled. Of the 300 planes expected in Europe on Friday morning, only 100-120 arrived, Eurocontrol reported. Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Chinese airlines have also announced that they were suspending some flights to European airports. (A.By./transl.rt)