Air travel crisis: Volcanic ash cloud affecting flights worldwide
Bro-in-law was supposed to fly back to Finland last Friday April 16. I even got an SMS from him informing us that he already passed immigration. Well, hours after, we got another text message from him that “all EU flights are cancelled” due to volcanic eruption in Iceland. I immediately did an online search and didn’t expect that the effect of the volcanic ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano would be that serious, paralyzing world travel from Europe and spreading out to the US and Asia, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on a global scale.
So my bro-in-law and his fellow passengers were housed in a hotel as they waited for travel updates. Incidentally, a friend was lucky enough to have flown on April 14 to Prague, and thank God she arrived safely, just before all the flights were cancelled. A classmate from high school who will be departing for Europe today posted in her Facebook account that she’s “hoping and praying the airline won’t cancel the flight.”
I feel so sorry for those who were stranded in the airports away from home, especially those who didn’t bring extra cash with them, as well as those whose business and vacation plans were badly affected by the eruption. And since most airlines allowed their passengers to obtain refunds or rebook without penalty, and with their planes grounded, you can just imagine the losses incurred. According to BBC News, the “airlines are reckoned to be losing about $200m (£131m; 149m Euros) daily in this crisis.” Ugh.
I couldn’t agree more with the statement of the vice-chairman of the European Parliament’s transport committee Peter van Dalen MEP as reported in BBC News, “The existing institutions should be improved. The lesson is that the information should be more accurate, so that passengers are informed at a very early stage how long they will have to wait at airports.” He said Eurocontrol’s flight ban had been too rigid and test flights could have been done earlier. He also urged an improved and unified booking system for Europe’s rail network to provide alternative travel options for the stranded passengers.
To get the latest air travel advisory and updates about the disruption of flights in different airports in the UK, you can visit BBC air travel news. Here’s a sample from their page:
Birmingham International Airport – disrupted
Flights suspended until 01:00 on Wednesday 21st April at the earliest due to volcanic ash cloud. Check with your airline before travelling.
Last updated: 20th April 2010 at 18:13, started: 15th April 2010Glasgow International Airport – disrupted
Disruption to flights due to volcanic ash cloud. Check with your airline before travelling.
Last updated: 20th April 2010 at 19:14, started: 15th April 2010London City Airport – disrupted
Flights suspended until 01:00 on Wednesday 21st April at the earliest due to volcanic ash cloud. Check with your airline before travelling.
Last updated: 20th April 2010 at 18:20, started: 15th April 2010
It pays to be informed beforehand. If you have an upcoming flight to Europe, particularly few days from now, it’s best to call your airline for the latest flight advisory and update.
Just like my bro-in-law whose flight was cancelled (God-willing, he will finally be departing as scheduled on Saturday), or my friend who arrived at her destination just before the planes were grounded, or my high school classmate who’s praying for her flight to push through, many passengers have their stories to tell about this crisis. I just hope and pray this will end soon.
That volcano has really caused a lot of trouble with air travel. It’s been all over the news here. There are a lot of stranded people going to and from Europe right now.
because of volcano not only air travel suffering. people who lives near by places they are suffering with the dangerous pollution.