EU to hold talks on aviation ban against Turkish airline Onur Air

BRUSSELS - The European Union's executive commission is to gather together EU member states for talks to resolve a row over an aviation ban against Turkish private airline Onur Air, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The Netherlands suspended Onur Air flights on Thursday. France, Germany, and Switzerland also suspended flights by the company, leaving about 40,000 passengers stranded.
"We will convene member states, together with a national expert committee on aviation, for a first exchange of views," said Stefaan De Rynck, spokesman for EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot.
De Rynck added that the "responsibility" to ground an airline "lies with the member states".
De Rynk also said action was necessary as passengers had a right to know what was happening.

05/17/2005 13:29 GMT