Dempsey backs plan to restore air travel

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey has said he and his European colleagues have backed a plan they hope will restore air travel across the continent by the weekend.

After a conference call with fellow transport ministers he said a three-zoned system would allow aviation authorities to manage flights around the ash cloud.

However, Mr Dempsey was not able to outline the criteria that would govern which planes would be allowed to fly through the travel zones.