Government: air safety takes top priority

Foreign Ministry to arrange overland transport for Finns from Britain

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) reiterated that decisions on opening or closing air space are exclusively a matter for aviation officials.
      At a press conference he emphasised that neither the government nor big business could influence the opening or closure of airports.
     
The transport ministers of the European Union held a video conference on Monday on how to react to the security and economic risks caused by the ash.
      Minister of Transport and Communications Anu Vehviläinen (Centre) said that Finland is firmly against taking any risks with flight safety.
      The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticised the imposition of flight bans on the basis of theoretical models, without hearing the views of the airlines, or checking the facts.
      Vehviläinen pointed out that the Finnish Air Force has flown a test flight to see the effects of the effects of the ash.
     
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) said that there are thousands, and possibly as many as ten thousand Finns who are stuck abroad as a result of the Icelandic eruption.
      He also said that the Foreign Ministry has not learned of any cases in which a Finnish passenger would be in any immediate danger.
      The Foreign Ministry has set up a telephone hotline (0800 04444) for those with any questions. Staff at Finnish diplomatic missions in different countries are also advising people in Facebook groups where travellers exchange information on routes back home.
     
Minister of Labour Anni Sinnemäki (Green), who is also responsible for consumer issues, noted that consumers have the right to a refund, or rescheduling, for flights that they were not flown.
      However, she said that it is somewhat unclear to what an extent passengers are entitled to lodging, and she predicted that the matter would be decided in court at the EU level.
      She added that as this was the case of a force majeure , consumers would probably not be entitled to compensation beyond a ticket refund.
     
Asked if Finland considered following the British example and taking its citizens back on naval vessels, Vanhanen noted that most of the Finns stuck abroad are in Europe, and can come back by train or by car.
      He added that if the situation remains unchanged for weeks, cooperation at the EU level would be the sensible way to go.
     
The Finnish Embassy in Britain is looking into the possibility of arranging bus and ferry transport back home for Finns stranded by the paralysis of air traffic.
     Arrangements are being made by the travel agency of the Finn Guild.
     The Finnish Foreign Ministry is also looking into the possibility of overland transport for Finns in Spain.

More on this subject:
 Hilary Clinton cancels visit to Finland

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Katainen and Liikanen drive back 3,000 km from Barcelona meeting (19.4.2010)

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