In the light of the closure of the Northern European airspace after the volcanic eruption in Iceland, SOS International a/s has set up an emergency preparedness centre to help stranded travelers from Denmark and all the Nordic countries.
SOS’ emergency centre has set up a special emergency preparedness team to handle the large number of inquiries from passengers who are stranded at airports in Europe and the rest of the world. At the moment SOS is receiving 2,000 calls a day and has registered 1,500 cases for passengers in distress. In addition to contacting SOS, the passengers are advised to keep themselves updated about the situation on the internet – for instance via the websites of the airports or the airline companies. In connection with rebooking of/compensation for tickets, please contact your airline company or your travel agency. Some insurance companies cover additional costs in connection with the cancelled flights. We will keep us up to date with the claim policies of the insurance companies in the area and can be contacted for clarification.
The closure of the airspace over Scandinavia has, at the time of writing, resulted in more than 1,000 ill and injures passengers who cannot be transported home by the planned scheduled flights or air ambulances. In emergency cases where the patient needs surgery within a limited period of time, SOS will arrange surgery at the nearest suitable and authorized treatment facility. After the treatment has been completed, SOS’ medical team will decide where and when repatriation will take place.
SOS will look at options for sending a specially built bus capable of carrying both lying and sitting patients southwards through Europe and pick up patients at treatment facilities and in open airports in order to ensure immediate repatriation for further treatment in the Nordic countries.
As soon as the airspace opens again, extra flights will be arranged to repatriate patients as soon as possible to their home countries and the receiving hospitals.
For further information contact Morten Holten, Operations Manager at SOS International’s emergency centre on +45 40 82 80 46.