KLM, Transavia cancel all Sunday flights, test trips planned

Sunday 18 April 2010

Dutch airlines KLM and Transavia said on Sunday they had canceled European all flights until midnight and transcontinental flights until at least 20.00 hours because of the cloud of volcanic ash over much of northern Europe.

A test flight between Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and Düsseldorf, Germany and back early on Sunday did not report any problems, raising hopes that normal service could be resumed quickly.

Seven other stranded KLM planes will be flown back from Germany on Sunday and if these have no problems, officials hope to begin transporting passengers again, Nos tv reported.

KLM also carried out a test flight on Saturday night which returned from over the North Sea unscathed. 'I have never seen it so clear,' operational director Ype de Haan was quoted as saying in the Telegraaf.

Test flights

'We are talking about test flights. That does not mean ordinary passenger traffic will be possible,' KLM director Peter Hartman told Nos on Sunday afternoon. 'That is up to the transport ministry and European authorities.'

Air France and Italy's Enac are also carrying out test flights, Nos said.

Airports remain closed all over Europe because of the risk caused by flying through volcanic ash, which can jam motors.

Safety

According to the Volkskrant, the Dutch pilots' association is calling for the partial resumption of flights because the tests already carried out show no problems are being caused the by ash.

'As soon as the concentration increases, of course closing air space again should be among the options,' chairman Evert van Zwol told the paper.

But together with airlines and manufacturers, measures can be drawn up to maximise safety, he said.

Passengers

Around 1,000 householders living in the vicinity of Schiphol have offered to put up stranded passengers until normal flights can be resumed.

And there are reportedly long queues at international train stations as passengers try to book alternative routes home.

Immigration police have also relaxed the rules for transit passengers stuck inside Schiphol's main departure lounge because they do not have a visa for the Netherlands. All 150 people trapped without the proper paperwork have been given a temporary visa, Nos said.

© DutchNews.nl

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