The body that represents the world's airlines, IATA, has criticised Europe's governments for the way they closed air space because of volcanic ash.The head of the airline industry body, Giovanni Bisignani, told the BBC: "This is a European embarrassment and it's a European mess."Millions of passengers have been affected by the crisis, which is now into its fifth day.Britain ordered three Royal Navy ships to help bring home stranded nationals.And the French railway company SNCF has said it will offer reduced fares and 80,000 extra seats between Paris and London this week.European aviation control agency Eurocontrol said only about 30 percent of the normal number of flights -- 8,000 to 9,000 -- would operate in Europe on Monday.Mr Bisignani, of the International Air Transport Association, has said the scale of the crisis facing the airline industry is now greater than at the time of the 9/11 attacks on the US."The decision that Europe has made is with no risk assessment, no consultation, no co-ordination, no leadership," he said."Europeans are still using a system based on a theoretical model which does not work... instead of using a system and taking decisions on facts and on risk assessment."He said airspace closures were costing airlines $200m/day.
