The House of Lords will quiz the Government next week to decide whether it was wrong to shut down European airspace during the ash crisis.
Director of aviation at the Department of Transport Jonathan Moor will give evidence at a public hearing of the Lords EU sub-committee on the Internal Market, Energy and Transport next Monday.
Chaired by Baroness O’Cathain, the Lords will consider:
· Whether the six-day complete ban on air travel in Europe was an overreaction that could have been avoided
· Whether a standardised limit for ash concentration levels to which aircraft flight could be permitted should be established by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
· What is being done to ensure an integrated transport network is in place to provide alternative transport options in the event of future disruption to airspace
· If the current EU regulations regarding compensation to passengers in event of disruption to air travel place an unfair financial burden on airlines.
Mr Moor will be supported by the Department of Transport’s head of international aviation and safety division and head of aviation safety branch Susan Hamilton who will also be giving evidence to the Lords.
By Linsey McNeill
