Ministry of Civil Aviation: Update on air disruptions as on 20-Apr-2010 2010 at 10.30 a.m.

Indications have been received that Heathrow Airport may get operational for limited hours from tonight, in which case, Air India will start Europe operations depending upon the availability of slots there. Air India has two planes stranded at Heathrow and one at Frankfurt which will become operational when the respective airports start functioning. As of now there are about 3000 Europe bound passengers stranded in India who have bookings with Air India.

Jet Airways have resumed US and Canada flights via Athens and there are four flights being operated daily to these destinations to clear up the stranded passengers. Efforts are on to carry Europe bound passengers to Athens and there on by road to other destinations in Europe. As of now there are about 6000 Europe bound passengers stranded in India who have booked with Jet Airways.

Lufthansa has started Munich and Austrian destination from today morning with priority being given to stranded passengers first.

The Control Room in the Ministry of Civil Aviation at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan has been functional since 19/04/2010 from 8 AM to 8 PM for addressing problems regarding the situation arising out of disruption of west bound flights as a result of volcanic eruption in Iceland causing aviation disruption.