RIYADH, Apr 21, 2010 (AFP) - Saudi Airlines lost about 33 million dollars when it had to cancel 22 flights following the closure of European airspace by a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland, local newspaper Okaz reported Wednesday.
The Saudi national carrier halted 11 flights to London, four to Paris, three to Germany and two each to Madrid and Milan, at a cost of about 1.5 million dollars a flight, Abdullah al-Husseini, the airline's chief for European services, told the daily.
Husseini said the airline is doing its best to help stranded customers.
"We have set up a customer service centre with two hotlines open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm," he said.
The cancellations stranded hundreds of foreign Muslims who were on the umrah minor pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, and interrupted travel for many more Saudis who had planned vacations for the midterm school break, which began last week.
Husseini said the airline planned to use larger-capacity jets to take care of the stranded passengers once European airspace is opened, and give priority to ill and elderly travellers.
"We will be replacing the Boeing 777 with a Jumbo which can carry a greater number of passengers," he told Okaz.
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Copyright AFP 2010.
