ISTANBUL - Turkish and Dutch experts resumed talks Thursday to try to resolve a row over a four-nation ban of Turkey's budget airline Onur Air, which denied allegations that its aircraft do not meet international safety standards.
"The talks are going well," Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildurim was quoted as telling journalists in Ankara by the Anatolia news agency.
He said they were focussed on "developing mutual cooperation and preventing misunderstandings," but added that it was too early to say if a solution would be reached.
"Delegations resumed negotiations this morning" following the opening of talks on Wednesday, Mehmet Akif Sam, a spokesman for the Turkish transport ministry, said earlier.
The Netherlands imposed a ban on Onur Air on May 12 because of "serious safety deficiencies observed with respect to aircraft, operational procedures and aircraft handling," Dutch aviation authorities said.
The Dutch decision prompted Germany, France and Switzerland to follow suit and declare their territories off limits to Onur Air, leaving nearly 40,000 passengers stranded, according to the company.
Belgium and Denmark, meanwhile, said their inspectors discovered no problem that would require grounding the company.
Initial talks between Dutch and Turkish aviation authorities in Amsterdam on Monday made no progress.
Similar discussions also took place between Turkish and German officials on Tuesday in Brunswick, Germany.
Onur Air has denounced the ban as "unjust" and slammed it as a move intended to reduce its share of the European market.
The Turkish airline, with 26 aircraft, depends heavily on its charter business to the Netherlands and Germany, which have sizable communities of Turkish immigrant workers.
Last year Onur Air, which employs 900 employees, reported sales of 450 million dollars (354.2 million euros).
05/19/2005 11:55 GMT