Impact of Icelandic Volcano Ash on Air Travel in 2010 and Its Future Implications

The research was done on the impact of Icelandic volcano ash upon the air travel in 2010 and its future implications. The volcano in question is situated on the Iceland glacier called Eyjafjallajokull. It started negligible volcanic activity on March 8, 2010 after many years of inactivity. However, these fiery eruptions renewed on April 15, 2010, and led to a consequent ban on air-traffic in UK for 6 consecutive days. The ban and attributed delays in flights caused commotion among the travelers and authorities. The airlines, economies, and people incurred huge monetary losses. Moreover, the indefinite cancellation of air traffic due to ash cloud in the Northern Europe was one of the biggest airline turmoil during a peace-period. Fiscal losses and emotional distress were the outcomes, along with the criticism by several analysts whether the complete shutting down of air space was justified or not. The primary research through survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews revealed that the travelers indeed suffered from huge financial losses in business and else. However, they lacked any sort of preparation like travel insurance, standby accommodation measures, etc. It was their unpreparedness that hit them even harder during this time. Scientists have predicted that future re-ignition of the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajokull and other neighboring volcanoes are expected. To avoid the same catastrophic shut down, the EasyJet Corporation has declared an effective detection device which can measure the safety limit and density of the ash cloud. Previous estimates by researchers were limited and not precise. Recommendations include the travel insurance for the passengers and attempt to stay vigilant, while the airlines can reinstate the goodwill be offering timely information and convenience to its clients. For achieving this, it’s highly prudent to stay in special liaison with the meteorological centers worldwide.