Slovak News Back to the news
Several Thousand Slovaks Stuck Abroad Due to Cancelled Flights
Monday 19 April 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - Problems surrounding air traffic over the past few days directly affected several thousands of Slovak citizens who were abroad when the airspace over most of Europe was shut down due to volcanic ash cloud moving across the continent, TASR was told by Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano on Monday.
According to Stano, around 60 Slovak citizens have to date asked for help or advice since Friday. They are stuck in airports all across Europe, plus in Egypt and Kenya. Especially those calling from Kenya's capital Nairobi are reported to have been provided immediate assistance.
Stano informed that also some 60 Slovak public officers on business trips in Brussels, Copenhagen, Paris and Madrid couldn't fly back to the country due to critical conditions in Europe's airspace. Also, the Slovak national water-polo team couldn't make its flight and has had to remain in Greece.
Despite the fact that mostly northern European countries have been the worst affected by the April 14 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in terms of flight cancellations, it was mainly Slovakia's consular offices in southern Europe (Spain, Greece and Bulgaria) that have been asked for assistance, added Stano.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
