434 flights to or from Malta have been cancelled since Thursday as a result of the ash cloud which has closed much of the airspace over north and central Europe.

The Foreign Ministry and the Secretariat for Tourism said today that a committee made up of representatives of the ministry, the secretariat, the Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Malta International Airport, Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association (MHRA) and the Federated Association of Travel & Tourism Agents (FATTA), met earlier today to discuss the current situation.

The committee said the position at the moment was as follows:

"Air Malta is continuing to add extra flights to those airports that are operational. They are offering all their ticketed clients a change of ticket to any airport that is operational without any extra charges. This facility is also available for ticket holders of airlines that are code-shared with Air Malta and can be done through Air Malta’s Call Centre (Telephone No: 21662211) or at the airport."

The ministry said the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association would continue to strongly urge its members to exercise flexibility with stranded guests by maintaining contracted rates, and it was recommending that in the prevailing circumstances hotels should not charge cancellation fees to clients that fail to show up due to the current situation.

Maltese passengers who are currently overseas should contact the nearest Maltese embassy for assistance and to obtain information of extra flights being operated by Air Malta and on ways and means how to reach these destinations. Contact details of embassies can be found on www.foreign.gov.mt

Malta International Airport has put in place queuing arrangements and Internet facilities to assist those passengers wishing to rebook their flights at the airport.

TRANSPORT MINISTERS IN VIDEO CONFERENCE

EU Ministers agreed during a video conference today on a number of measures to get aircraft flying again.

"As from tomorrow we should see more planes flying" - EU transport Commissioner Sim Kallas said at a a press conference in Brussels.

Ministers agreed with a proposal submitted by Eurocontrol to divide European airspace into three classifications. Flights will be permitted in the 'no risk' areas where particles from the erupting Icelandic volvano are almost non existent.

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