EU to hold emergency talks to discuss air chaos

EU transport ministers are to hold emergency talks by video conference on Monday to discuss measures and steps to be taken in relation to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, whose ash cloud is blowing across Europe, leaving millions of passengers stranded around the world.

The talks will be held as the air travel companies have been increasing pressure on authorities to take action on a crisis that they say has been costing companies about $200 million per day in lost business.

Spain's EU Affairs Minister Diego Lopez Garrido said there were hopes that half of European flights could resume operating by Monday. He was speaking after talks with Eurocontrol, which co-ordinates air traffic control in 38 nations. It had recommended the current flight ban.

63,000 flights have been cancelled across Europe as airspace remains closed in more than 20 countries.

The Eyjafjallajokull volcano on Iceland has meanwhile continued to shoot a steady stream of ash into the sky.
Airspace are closed in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, UK.

Partial closures are in Bulgaria (Sofia and Plovdiv open), France (southern airports open), Italy (northern airspace expected to reopen from 0500 GMT Monday), Norway (most airports open), Poland (several airports, including Warsaw, open), Sweden (northern airports open).

Flights are operating in Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Spain.