How Does The Eyjafjallajokull Glacier’s Volcano Eruption In Iceland Affect US In Atlanta?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Smoke, steam and ash clouds rose from the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull (pronounced ay-yah-FYAH’-plah-yer-kuh-duhl) glacier in Iceland starting the first week in April but most violently on Wednesday, April 14th. The resulting ash clouds drifted across Europe and caused the largest international airspace shutdown in years and threatened to choke air travel for days and pose problems for months.
Because volcanic ash can cause engine failure in airplanes, civil aviation authorities shut down airports across northern and western Europe on ‘tax day’, Thursday, April 15th, as the cloud drifted across the Continent. Cancellations scrambled flight plans as far south as Italy and Spain.
U.S. carriers canceled about 165 flights on April 15th, or half of their daily traffic to and from Europe - which typically passes near Iceland.
Experts say it is impossible to predict how long the volcano will continue to erupt or at what intensity. Even if the volcano stops spewing dust today, flights will remain disrupted for several days because planes and crews are out of place. If you remember, after Sept. 11, 2001 - the last time authorities closed such a broad swath of airspace - it took U.S. carriers almost a week to get their schedules near normal. (I remember far too we…My wife is a Delta Flight Attendant and spent 5 days in Nova Scotia after her London-to-Atlanta flight on 9/11 was re-routed.)
But how does this affect Atlanta?
Ever heard of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport? Hartsfield in a major cog in the Atlanta economic engine. In addition, this disruption could be particularly painful to carriers such as British Airways and Scandinavian Airline, which are already facing heavy financial losses and count on Atlanta, New York and Cincinnati as their U.S. ‘gateways’. If these airlines suffer, we all will suffer in some form or fashion. Perhaps by higher ticket prices due to less competition. Perhaps by not being able to get a seat on a plane the day that suits our schedule best due to less airline options. Perhaps by putting more folks in the unemployment line.
Earth is a small planet and seems to get smaller each and every day. We all need to live peacefully and work together to make our planet a better place.
Posted in: Intown Atlanta Real Estate News