Companies

Domestic carriers stop Europe flights

By XIN DINGDING (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-17 14:01

BEIJING - The enormous ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano has caused most flights between China and Europe to be canceled or delayed on Friday, wrecking travel plans for thousands of people.

Air China, the flag carrier, canceled the majority of flights to Europe on Friday, while China Southern, the largest carrier by fleet size domestically, also put seven flights on hold in Guangzhou.

At least seven European airlines, including Finnair and Lufthansa, have cancelled flights leaving Beijing Friday.

"We urged airlines to put safety as the top priority and provide the necessary service to affected passengers if their flights were delayed," a spokeswoman with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.

A number of stranded passengers at the Beijing Capital International Airport said the difficulties they faced were much more than a few free meals could help.

Wang Xiaolan, owner of a Chinese restaurant in France, flew in from her hometown Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, in the morning with her husband to catch a mid-day flight to Paris , but was told it was canceled.

"We were told tickets would be available around May 5. It will be very inconvenient, since we had to carry so many luggage back again."

A 12-member Russian tour group was also stuck at the capital airport on Friday, as Erchova Maria, 15, said their visas are about to expire, but the return flight to Moscow in the faternoon was canceled.

"We do not know where to live now and what consequences we will face," she said.

An airport staff later said efforts are being made to help the group extend their visas.

The flight cancellation will also disrupt Europe-bound tour groups, with visas being the biggest problem.

"If it takes days for the sky to be safe again, tourists will leave a few days late but return on the originally set date. Their trips have to be cut short, because the European Schengen visa is issued strictly in line with the schedule and it is impossible to reapply for a new visa now," said Zhang Wei, general manager of the outbound department with the China International Travel Service head office.

With two tour groups set to leave for Rome and Frankfurt over the weekend, the travel service held emergency meetings with insurance companies to discuss how to compensate customers.

Li Yao and the Associated Press contributed to the story.