Volcanic ash
Evidence heard by Lords EU Sub-Committee B on the volcanic ash crisis
14 July 2010
The Lords European Union Committee heard evidence on 26 July from Jonathan Moor, Director of Aviation at the Department for Transport, and other senior officials on the Government and EU’s response to the volcanic ash crisis caused by the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull.
The Lords EU Sub-Committee on Internal Market, Energy and Transport chaired by Baroness O’Cathain, asked the officials what measures the Government and the EU had in place to deal with a volcano eruption in European airspace. Areas they covered in the session included:
- Whether the 6 day complete ban on air travel in Europe was an overreaction that could have been avoided.
- Whether a standardised limit for ash concentration levels to which aircraft flight could be permitted should be established by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
- What is being done to ensure an integrated transport network is in place to provide alternative transport options in the event of future disruption to airspace.
- Whether current EU regulations regarding compensation to customers in event of disruption to air travel place an unfair financial burden on airlines and where the government stand on proposals to reform the regulations.
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