Ash prompts Pope contingency plan

Airports across northern Italy were closed yesterday as the southern tip of the volcanic ash cloud pushed further down the continent, causing organisers to devise a contingency plan for Pope Benedict XVI's return to the Vatican later today.

The airspace over Rome was still open yesterday evening but according to Charles Bonello, the chairman of the papal visit organising committee, a contingency plan was drawn up and "all options" were considered.

"Nothing is finalised but we are discussing the matter with the Vatican since any arrangement would have to be acceptable to both them and us. Extending the Pope's stay is also one of the options on the table," he said yesterday soon after Pope Benedict XVI's flight departed Fiumicino airport in Rome.

Ash from a volcano in Iceland grounded airlines across Europe for the third day running yesterday as the plume extended to the south and east.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded at airports trying to make alternative travel arrangements.

Winter Moods frontman Ivan Grech will not be able to make it for today's concert at the Waterfront in Valletta where young people will be meeting the Pope. He got caught up in Dublin and all attempts to find alternative means of transport failed.

"I am ready with my bags packed just in case the airspace opens in the morning but things are not looking good. It is a disappointment for me to let these young people down," Mr Grech said.

Michael Bugeja, The Sunday Times music critic, who was in London for two days, was one of the thousands who could not return as UK airspace remained closed.

"Everything is on hold but it does create problems because of work commitments," he said.

Malta's rugby team, also abroad, almost failed to make it to yesterday's game against The Netherlands since their flight from the UK to Amsterdam on Thursday was cancelled.

The team arrived in Amsterdam on Friday at 4.30 a.m. on a coach lent to them by the Bath rugby team.

"We drove down to Dover, took the ferry to Calais and headed towards Amsterdam by road," rugby player Matthew Mirabelli said. He added that their hotel in the outskirts of Amsterdam was full of stranded passengers.

Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, said around 6,000 flights operated over European airspace yesterday, a significant drop from the 22,000 flights that normally operate on a Saturday.

Air Malta cancelled flights to Reggio Calabria, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Milan, Munich, Bologna, Heathrow and Gatwick.

In an attempt to ferry people to mainland Europe, the airline laid on 10 additional relief flights scheduled for Rome and Catania from where passengers would be able to take trains to their respective destinations.

The ash also wrought havoc in the theatre scene, with the Tap Reloaded performances scheduled for yesterday and today postponed to Monday and Tuesday respectively.

The production of The Importance Of Being Earnest, which had to be staged over the weekend at the Manoel Theatre, was also postponed to May 7 and 8.

Performers in both events could not travel to Malta because their flights were cancelled.

The closure of Europe's airspace is unprecedented, and the International Air Transport Association has warned that the disruption could cost airlines up to €150 million a day in lost revenue.

"IATA's initial and conservative estimate of the financial impact on airlines is in excess of US$200 million (€150 million) per day in lost revenues. In addition, airlines will incur added costs for re-routing of aircraft, care for stranded passengers and stranded aircraft at various ports," the organisation said.

A spokesman for Air Malta said the airline was not yet in a position to quantify the costs incurred by flight cancellations.

In a statement, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism said the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta International Airport, Air Malta and hotels are pooling their resources to manage the situation.

Hot volcanic ash is dangerous to aircraft since it damages engines and can cause them to stop working. It also extensively damages the outer surfaces of aircraft.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com