Commissioner needs to call DAA chief to the front of the classroom

Posted by Bronwen Maher on January 19, 2011 at 11:43 AM

Labour MEP Nessa Childers has today called for a 'day of action' from the European Commission to sort out Europe's travel chaos, as airport chiefs meet Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas to debate the problem.
 
Nessa Childers said: "When Declan Collier, the Chief Executive of Dublin Airport Authority, and his European counterparts meet Commissioner Kallas today, I hope they feel like a child caught napping who's been called to the front of the classroom.

“Because Europe's airports were caught napping last month, leading to many Europeans sleeping overnight in crowded airports, when they should have been making their way home for Christmas. In one day last month, just four days before Christmas, over 1,000 flights were grounded across the continent.
 
"Mr Kallas himself called airports the "weak link" in the European transport network. I hope he says as much to the airport chiefs today, and that they stay in that room all night if that's what's needed to prepare sufficiently for such a crisis."
 
"We need a 'New Plan' for air travel in Europe- encompassing airlines, airports, policy makers and consumer groups- to replace the current system which leaves none of these stakeholders happy. Given the money which was lost when European airspace suffered a prolonged shut down for a third time in 2010, such investment should be seen as just that- an investment, which will pay dividends in years to come.

“We know that it is possible to cope under such circumstances- many airports in Eastern and Northern Europe had little trouble staying open in severe weather, because they had the experience and infrastructure to deal with such an outcome.
 
"It therefore seems very simple how European officials and airports can prepare for this problem- consult with those countries whose work practices and infrastructure and designed for such snowfall; design a common plan so that no airport becomes a bottleneck in European airtravel; and invest in the infrastructure which will serve all stakeholders and both ensure stability and eliminate loss of income in years to come."

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