Published: April 18, 2010 at 8:42 AM
LONDON, April 18 (UPI) -- Ash from an Iceland volcano forced closure of much of European airspace for a fourth day, stranding thousands of travelers and causing economic losses to mount.
As the volcano continued erupting in Eyjafjallajokull, the plume of ash spread as far south as Italy, which closed some airports in the northern part of the country, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Airports throughout most of Europe were to remain closed at least through Sunday afternoon and European aviation officials reported only 5,000 flights across European airspace Saturday, compared with 22,000 normally.
The International Air Transport Association said the airline industry likely would lose more than $200 million a day because of the canceled flights.
"The bottom line is that it could not have happened at a more difficult time for airlines that are trying to climb out of the global recession," said association spokesman Steve Lott.
Trade and tourism losses mounted for countries battered by the global recession.
The economic toll extends to businesses dependent on air cargo shipments as perishable food sat in warehouses, stores awaited goods in short supply and flowers from Africa and Asia were in danger of dying before getting to European markets.
The volcanic ash also disrupted fights carrying military supplies for operations in Afghanistan and the Pentagon said all medical evacuation flights from Iraq and Afghanistan had been diverted to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland instead of flying to Germany, The New York Times reported.
The ash is not expected to pose a health risk as long as it stays in the upper atmosphere, the World Health Organization said.
BTW.....thanks for staying on top of this catastrophe for us
Don't the laws of physics dictate that the ash will eventually fall to earth?
“...the airline industry likely would lose more than $200 million a day...”
I would think this is ‘gross receipts’. They are not paying for fuel not used, maintenance costs are down. Are they still paying crews, or do they only pay for crews when they work?
Taking the Slow Boat: Freighter Trips
A 65-day cruise on aboard a cargo ship?
That’s so bananas … you belong on a banana boat!
OK, not all cargo ships are carrying bananas, but if you choose to take the “slow boat,” you may find yourselves among shipments of televisions, coal or even containers of mail.
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2007/10/08/taking-the-slow-boat-freighter-trips/
traveling the old new way
OK, where does the ash eventually go? It certainly doesn't stay in the upper atmosphere forever.
The ash is not expected to pose a health risk as long as it stays in the upper atmosphere, the World Health Organization said.
Well, at least we got that going for us..../s