The recent snow disruption affecting UK and European airports has prompted the European transport commissioner Siim Kallas to propose minimum service requirements for airports. Kallas criticised the airports for not supporting airlines enough during the severe weather period, which should not happen again, he said.
"I have become increasingly concerned about the problems relating to the infrastructure available to airlines - airports and ground-handling - during this severe period of snow," he says. "It seems at this stage that this is a 'weak link' in a chain which, under pressure, is contributing to severe disruption."
Kallas has promised to convene a meeting with airport representatives this week to find an explanation for the problems and assess the need for new regulations.