EXTRA: Spain offers its airports as hub for transatlantic flights

Madrid - Spain has offered its airports as a hub for transatlantic flights while the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland continues hampering air traffic, Infrastructure Minister Jose Blanco confirmed Monday.

The Spanish European Union presidency will discuss the matter with EU transport ministers when they meet by teleconference in the afternoon, Blanco told the radio stations RNE and Cadena Ser.

Blanco denied reports that half of European flights could pass through Spain on Monday. "I doubt that we could be talking about such an important volume," the minister said.

Spain could act as a hub, especially for transatlantic flights, Blanco said, explaining that efforts were being made so that 70,000 people could fly from North America to Britain via Spain.

The EU would take a "coordinated decision," Blanco said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/319405,extra-spain-offers-its-airports-as-hub-for-transatlantic-flights.html.