EU transport ministers have agreed to back a proposal to unify European airspace, officials said on Tuesday.

"We tried to accelerate a number of mechanisms already planned in the Single European Skies package," said Jose Blanco, transport minister for Spain, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

At the Brussels meeting, ministers showed support for the European Commission's plans to push forward its "Single Skies" package, which aims to streamline national airspaces into nine distinct blocks by June 2012. Experts hope the division will help coordinate air traffic during future crises.

No money for airlines

However, ministers were less enthusiastic about the idea of providing financial aid to airlines grounded by a volcanic ash cloud last month.

"There is no sack of money available," European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said.

The commission estimates that disruptions stemming from the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano cost the struggling airline industry about 1.5-2.5 billion euros ($2-3.3 billion).

Likewise, the notion of deferring charges paid to air traffic controllers received little support.

"This was one idea that was not very warmly welcomed in the Council," Kallas told reporters. "The most-hard hit were the airlines...and the idea was to share their burden."

smh/afp/Reuters
Editor: Rob Turner