Eyjafjallajokull, the Icelandic volcano whose ash has spread all over Europe, has wreaked havoc on air travelers and air transportation around the globe. While the cumulative economic impacts of Eyjafjallajokull will not be known for some time, to date 100,000 flights have been canceled; thousands of passengers have been stranded; airlines lost more than $1.7 billion through last Tuesday, according to an International Air Transportation Association report; and supply chains have been distrupted for everything from electronics to fresh fruits and vegetables. In an increasingly globalized economy and air system, disruptions in one region, or even in one airport, can have rippling effects throughout the rest of the world.
This unfortunate event demonstrates the interconnected nature of air travel and reinforces the need to address congestion at its choke points which, under normal circumstances, are often the New York region's airports, in order to improve air travel nationally and even globally. Email Katie Nosker at Katie@rpa.org to join the Better Airports Alliance and help advocate for solutions to congestion.
@BetterAirports