Media

17.05 - Monday 19^th April 2010: The Council of EU Transport Ministers is expected to approve an interim, European-wide response to the airspace restrictions arising from the volcanic ash cloud. The response will ease restrictions, and this will facilitate the commencement of limited operations from 0500 local time tomorrow, based on ash proliferation assessments.

The response to be confirmed by the Ministers later this evening includes the consideration of three different zones, depending on their degree of contamination:

1. The first of these zones is located in the central nucleus of emissions and will also maintain a full restriction of operations, given that it is impossible to guarantee its safety.
2. The second of these zones is one which will not in principle impede air traffic operations being carried out, even though there are still amounts of ash. This zone will need to be confirmed and the decisions about the operations will be taken in a coordinated manner by the authorities of the Member States.
3. The third zone is not affected by the ash, resulting in no restrictions of any type to the operations.

The IAA will continue to work with neighbouring air traffic service providers and with the airlines to implement this response.

Irish airspace restrictions will continue until 0500 local time, Tuesday 20^th April 2010. At that time the IAA expects to reinstate some air traffic services on a phased basis. The IAA stresses that this is not a return to full service. Normal operations are not expected to be in place for up to three or four days.

The IAA will continue to monitor both volcanic activity and meteorological information and will advise the public on any developments. It is now up to airports and airlines to decide how best to use this opportunity. Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans. There will be a further update at 2000, Monday 19^th April, 2010.

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For further information contact:

Ken Rogan

086 317 9955