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The Icelandic Volcano 2011
May 2011 saw the eruption of another Icelandic volcano, Grimsvötn, just 13 months after the dramatic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, not so far away.
The outcomes were different, partly blessed by nature, but also because of an improved response by the various governments and their regulatory authorities.
That they were able to act differently was due to a considerable amount of engagement with airlines, airports and other vital industry players.
However, a lot more seems possible for future events, and future events like this there will be.
Areas that need further scrutiny include validating the forecast data. This is possible through the use of more than one forecasting source, and the operation of test flights into forecast areas of ash contamination. The lack of any airborne monitoring aircraft during this most recent eruption was a major setback.
A robust and acceptable validation process is vital. Without it, airlines, their passenger and freight customers, and the economies of all the countries affected by flight cancellations could needlessly suffer.
It is to be hoped that, like 2010, governments and agencies in Europe will collaborate to further refine the scope of allowable flight operations arising from future volcanic eruptions.
The Icelandic Volcano 2010
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted so much on 15th April 2010 that it caused the closure of most northern European airspace, the effects of which were felt globally.
UK airspace was closed for six days, stranding travellers all over the world, some for a week or more after airspace was reopened.
BAR UK’s role
BAR UK relocated to NATS at Swanwick when they established their airlines/airports liaison team, to represent the interests of scheduled airlines.
This team was immediately located next door to NATS’s own crisis management centre, and was able to be actively and directly involved in issues such as data being received and used, the re-opening of airspace, and the impacts on slots at busy airports.
Questions
Typical questions that have been asked include:
- Why air space was closed at all?
- Were the authorities too slow in assessing matters?
- Is it safe to fly in any ash, or only the more concentrated amounts that have been emitted?
- Why wasn’t there a harmonised response from the EU?
- Why was there such a divergence of meteorological information being made available?
- How will a similar situation be handled in the future?
BAR UK hopes that all relevant authorities and aviation partners (airlines and airports) will contribute to expert debates to answer these questions, and have a more coordinated approach in the future.
The Economic Effects
Without any over-statement, the closure of airspace has been a disaster for airlines and airports. Effectively, a minimum of 2% of annual business was lost to UK operations; the true cost is likely to be a lot more. Airlines’ losses, directly due to this event, are expected to exceed US$2 billion.
A large part of this is due to the imposition on to airlines of the Denied Boarding Regulation EU261/2004 (see next section).
The Imposition of EU 261/2004 (Denied Boarding)
To impose this Regulation on airlines was to misuse it. It was introduced to impose a standard level of service and/or recompense for ordinary day-to-day over-bookings, delays or cancellations.
Without any time limit whatsoever, airlines have been made responsible for either refunding or rerouting passengers whose flights have been cancelled as a direct result of airspace closures.
No other businesses have this sort of punitive legislation imposed upon them.
For example, when snow shuts down transport systems for days at a time, rail and coach passengers are not entitled to claim food and accommodation from their transport company, so why should airlines be treated in such a discriminatory manner?
BAR UK will work with IATA and others to clarify matters for the future.
EU Actions
BAR UK welcomes the actions and statements of 27 April by Vice Presidents Kallas, Almunia and Rehn, concerning Financial Compensation, Single European Sky, improved risk management and the proposed establishment of an aviation platform.
However, the critical thing now is to translate proposals into actions, which will also require the positive participation of individual EU states.
BAR UK intends to work with the UK government on these matters for the benefit of all its members.
'You and Yours' Interview
BBC Radio
Date of Broadcast:
27th April 2010
