How have you been affected by the volcanic ash?
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From the fruit you eat, to the sports you watch, the impact of the volcano flight shutdown has hit all facets of life. The ash cloud has stranded millions but has also hit the industries whose products consumers rely on.
- Travel and Tourism: The airline industry says it is losing some $200 million a day. Travel and tourism accounts for around five percent of global gross domestic product — some $3 trillion — with Europe accounting for a third of that. A prolonged shutdown could cost up to $5-10 billion dollars a week in the industry, analysts say.
- Health: The flight ban is preventing some life-saving transplant tissue from reaching patients, and other operations have had to be canceled because surgeons are stuck overseas.
- Sport: Champions League, Premier League and Europa League soccer matches, the London Marathon and the Giro d’Italia cycling race could all be hampered.
- Fish: The world’s largest fish farmer, Norway’s Marine Harvest, said it would reduce salmon harvest volumes from Monday and that salmon exports to Asia and North America had been hit.
- Flowers, fruits and vegetables: Kenya’s horticulture industry has lost $12 million to the volcano-induced European airspace closure and it will take several weeks to recover even if flights resume now.
- Politics: Many government heads and heads of state, including President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, were unable to attend the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski on Sunday following his death in a plane crash in Russia.
- Entertainment: Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures announced it was moving the world premiere of action movie “Iron Man 2″ to Los Angeles from London due to uncertainty caused by the travel chaos in Europe.
How have you been affected by the paralyzed airspace? Share your thoughts with us.
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My Girlfriend and har two friends are all stranded in NYC with no money left, and no help from British Airways at all, efter a 3month around the world travel.
The office at JFK is closed, when they call them, the phone is either hanged up or tells them to check the website, that says contact the local ticket office wich is closed.
BA have really not done anything to help them, with a place to sleep or something to eat.
They have been able to book a ticket to DK This sunday over a week later than expected they will be home (we hope).
Its hard for both them and us at home to sit and just wait, when we had prepered and looked forward for there arrival for the past month
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I am a MA resident who traveled to Europe for vacation with my husband. I am currently in Amsterdam and was scheduled to go home on Saturday. When my flight was canceled, I rebooked with BA for a $2800 flight out on Monday. That was also canceled. My hotel price has gone up to about $450 here. I scheduled a train trip for $400 down to Paris for Tuesday and have another $2300 flight booked through American Airlines for Friday in the off chance that it flies out. Amsterdam’s airport is closed and I have spent the entire time on the internet trying to figure out what to do. I realize we’re the “lucky” ones in that we do have a hotel to stay in, however it is eating away at our savings with no real end in sight. We’ve investigated all kinds of options from cruise ships to rental cars, etc.
I understand there are many stranded travelers and as we all have looked to be creative regarding alternative methods to return home, I cannot believe there is not much assistance or information sent out to Americans all over Europe struggling to return to the US. While Europeans can rent a car or taxi, catch a bus or train or even buy a car to drive home- we have no choice but to remain stranded on the continent. Where is “our” Navy to bring us some help. I understand the British Navy is going to retrieve some British citizens. I called the consulate today and received an e-mail in response to call local information, as if I hadn’t thought of that myself. Everywhere you call or research local information – you get a catch 22 circle of nothing. No one answers phones ( I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION) and the web is not any better. We have exhausted every possible scenario and have been most creative to no avail. A little compassion can go a long way and we need to be considered so far away from home. Our nerves are frazzled, our hopes diminishing and our financial funds dwindling. We are here on business – not a holiday and it is more than frustrating to get no responses or considerations everywhere we turn. I’m amazed at the lack of compassion from our European “friends” and even our own back home.
My husband has been stuck in NYC since last Thursday. Finally got a flight to Barcelona on American Airlines last night-since Spain really has the only open airspace right now! He arrived in Barcelona safely this am and now is driving back up to London today! I would try any airlines heading thru Spain and yourself there if you can! It seems to be the only place not badly effected by the ash cloud! The whole situation feels very hopeless and frustrating as the transport companies (ie airlines, bus, train, care rental) are not being either cooperative or helpful, and charging ridiculous prices for their services! I feel horrible for all those people really stuck with limited money and resources. I like the comment above about why the US Navy is not helping those stranded in Europe! That would be a huge help right now!!
I was organizing a study trip to Stockholm for 31 students.
Due to the volcanic Eruption we aren’t not able to travel by airplane from Amsterdam to Stockholm.
We have canceled our trip because we couldn’t find an alternative.
Also SAS wasn’t available at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. There information desk was closed! and SAS wasn’t accessible by phone. Also SAS did give us an alternative to travel to Stockholm.