THE Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has hit back at claims from a European airline group that Ireland is set to become a “no-fly zone” because of increased charges.

Health Minister Mary Harney is due to attend an emergency EU meeting in Luxembourg today to coordinate efforts to prevent the spread of swine flu in Europe.

The Association of European Airlines has reported that European airlines' international traffic rose 3.8% from a year earlier in the week of August 18-24, describing the recovery as "frail".

European airlines today appealed for governments to help loss-burdened carriers survive the Iraq crisis, which the industry blamed for compounding the ”worst crisis in its history.”

European airlines need an international insurance fund if they are to avoid a crisis like the one that hit US carriers after Sept 11, according to a senior member of the Association of European Airlines.