Though volcanic ash is no longer seen splashed across the front pages of newspapers in the U.S.A. it is still having major repercussions in Europe, especially in the northern latitudes.
In Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland hundreds of flights have been grounded. Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Derry airports are closed until further word from the government.
Low cost carriers Ryanair and Flybe canceled all of their flights from Belfast, Derry, Edinburgh, Prestwick, George Best Belfast City, Glasgow and the Isle of Man airports on Tuesday and may or may not be flying in Wednesday.
Much of the problems associated with volcanic ash is a degree of uncertainty about how much ash it takes to stop an airplane. Understandably, government regulators do not want to test the jet engine ash limits with planes full of passengers. It would only take one to fall out of the sky to create an uproar.
Finland has been one of the hardest hit countries in terms of airport closures because of volcanic ash. They are also one of the leaders in testing jet aircraft to learn the limits of technology vs. nature’s eruptions.
Here are some photos that have been released by the Finnish Air Force of the effects of volcanic ash on operating jet engines. These jet engines shown were flying just before one of the latest airspace closures.
The bottom line: European travel, especially into the northern U.K., Ireland and Scandinavia is dodgy. Make alternative plans. Buy good trip insurance. Check with your airline.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
