The effort to bring disaster relief to Haiti is increasing traffic at the Gander airport in central Newfound.

Planes from Russia, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe are stopping over for re-fuelling and other services.

Gander airport officials said Monday that it's going smoothly because the federal government relaxed travel restrictions for relief workers.

"Foreign nationals who are directly involved in this relief effort they don't need transiting visas for these types of flights and that's certainly a big move in the right direction," said Gander Airport Authority CEO Gary Vey.

"It takes away the concerns that some of the customs folks, such as people without travel visas, that would lead to the slowing down of the processing of these planes and that's not something anybody wants as this point."

Tens of thousands of people died in Haiti after a powerful earthquake hit there Jan. 12.

Survivors are struggling to find food and safe shelter.

Vey said it's unfortunate that such an immense tragedy gives the airport a revenue boost.

The planes are carrying food, medicine and relief workers to Haiti.