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Volcano ash cloud creates food deficit threat in Europe

19 April 2010 08:51 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. European air carriers, which flights were paralyzed by Icelandic volcano ash, demand to review the decision about cancellation of air travels. The companies said planes flown on test missions were unscathed by the ash cloud, which caused â‚¬1 billion airline losses and it enabled them to resume the air travels.
Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and UK closed eir airspaces. France (northern airspace, including Paris, closed until today), Italy (northern airspace closed until today) and Norway (limited flights in north) closed the airspaces partially.
According to the reports of International Airports Council, the volcano ash cloud has paralyzed 313 airports since April 15. 65 000 flights have been cancelled forcing 7 million passengers to delay their travels. The disaster is estimated to be costing airlines â‚¬200 million a day. Business on rail lines was booming, with extra trains and operating at standing-room only. Car rental agencies in Paris were running out of cars, and some taxi companies were scoring enormous fares such as the $US5600 being charged for a trip from Madrid to Paris.
The volcano eruption was intensified during last 24 hours, Iceland Weather Center reports. The ash cloud is expected to stay over Europe four-five days more. Its economic damage will roll through to farms, retail and nearly any business that depends on air cargo shipments. Fresh produce will spoil, and supermarkets in Europe will begin to run out. In Britain, where a layer of fine dust is covering large areas, authorities are advising people with respiratory problems to stay indoors or wear masks. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Sunday ordered a detailed probe into the economic fallout from the biggest airspace shutdown since World War II. Barroso said in a statement that he had ordered three of his top lieutenants to â€œfully assess the impact of the situation created by the volcanic ash cloud on the economy, and the air travel industry in particular.â€ They will lead the investigation into the effects of tens of thousands of cancelled flights following the volcano eruption in Iceland that began last Wednesday. Barroso said that the group could call an emergency meeting of EU transport ministers.