EU transport Chief blasts airport chaos

AFP/Getty Images A worker a snow plow in close second start and operates in an attempt to runway it operational at London Heathrow on Tuesday again.

The European Commission on Tuesday criticized airport operators in Western Europe for ill prepared to deal with bad weather such as snow, ice and freezing temperatures continue to hinder road, rail and air transport networks for a fourth day Christmas threatens plans for millions of tourists.

Amid the growing criticism such as airports and other transport undertakings of snow and ice were treatment, said Siim Kallas, the Commission transport policy Chairman, the EU executive arm new rules draft can, if not voluntarily take airports be weather better plan.

"I am extremely concerned about the amount of the break in Europe caused by heavy snow travel," said Mr Kallas. "It is unacceptable and should not happen again."

Mr Kallas said he plans to discuss the situation meeting with airport company in the coming days.

The Commission intervention as Northern Europe's busiest airports continue with weather conditions to play fight with thousands more flights cancelled. The Association of European airlines, a trade group, headquartered in Brussels, said about 10,000 flights between Friday and travel for approximately 800,000 passengers was cancelled Monday noon. It was to provide no longer up-to-date facts and figures.

More flights were cancelled Tuesday of the European three busiest airports - Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt - at smaller airports throughout UK and Germany, in particular. In Ireland Dublin Airport, said it all flights until 5 P.m. local time (noon ET) was stopped due to ice on the runway.

Weather problems already have Air France-KLM cost between € 25 million (32.8 million$) and € 35 million in this winter, the airline said.

Frankfurt was worst hit Tuesday as heavy snowfall and heavily disrupted flights Germany with some flights cancelled freezing temperatures or delayed hours. Airport Frankfurt had to close for three hours early in the morning and airport Fraport AG said it expects that approximately 340 from the planned 1,300 cancelled takeoffs and landings. They were busy trying to keep clear of snow runways, de-icing aircraft said German airlines and airport operators, and were stranded passengers with drinks, snacks and accommodation services.

Authorities also sought the situation to relieve a similar move restrictions and Germany relaxing the u.k. night flight, taking into account. The British Government offers also Heathrow operator BAA airports Ltd. assistance from the British army.

But carriers in Western Europe is asked why they fought, networks run by sporadic snow storms, if much longer periods of harsh winter weather can handle Scandinavian countries.

Experts say the specific nature of the Scandinavian winter means more do it invested the countries in equipment, keeping networks running and airports in the region are also less and have more time to spend between flights on snow. You also indicate that Western Europe a few decades has mild winters and the weather this December was the worst since the early 1980s.

Politicians and airports are already react. U.k. Prime Minister David Cameron said the winter weather was extreme and the country saw for the coldest December for a century position, but the Government was hard work to clear roads and aircraft flying to get.

On the problems of London Heathrow Airport, he said the harshest critics which airport operator BAA would admit that extensive interruption was understandable given the heavy snowfalls. "But if it is understandable that Heathrow had to close, I'm frustrated for all concerned, that it so long taking place to improve the situation," he added.

Mr Cameron said it had "intense debate" between the Minister of transport and BAA as to how to ensure that normal service at Heathrow will soon be continued and he expected at second start and runway later Tuesday be reopened.

U.k. Transport Minister Philip Hammond Monday's Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government asked research, whether it expect more severe winters in the coming years and whether the country should invest more in equipment, infrastructure to keep running.

London Gatwick Airport, which was badly hit by snow Saturday and flight delays and cancellations since suffered, it has to said more £ 8 million ($ 12.4 million) on snow clearing equipment, doubling its number of snow-clearing vehicles 95 invest of 47. BAA is also committed to spend more on snow clearing equipment at Heathrow.

Continued chaos was also road and rail network Tuesday influence. German railway operator Deutsche Bahn AG said it had, restrictions of ice and his car were speed crammed as travellers not to be able to fly or drive your goals took the train instead. Railway lines in the United Kingdom made of ice and the Eurostar service between London and European cities, including Brussels and Paris continued to suffer delays.

-Hilde knife contributed to this article.

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