European transport ministers have agreed to work on measures they say will help prevent further disruption to air travel as a result of volcanic ash.
The measures include speeding up current plans to integrate Europe's airspace, effectively creating a single European regulator for a single European sky.
The European Commission will also draw up guidelines to allow national governments to compensate airlines.
The International Air Transport Association estimates last month's six-day shutdown cost the industry $US2 billion.
The association's director general, Giovanni Bisignani, says governments should foot the bill because they shut the airspace.
