Report: Volcano Ash Cloud Costs U.S. $650 Million

This aerial photo shows a plume of ash rising from the volcano in southern Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull glacier, Monday, April 19, 2010.

/ AP Photo/Jon Gustafsson

While the eruption of an Icelandic volcano appears to primarily affect airlines and passengers waiting for flights in and out of Europe to resume, the U.S. Travel Association estimates that the ash cloud produced by the eruption has cost the U.S. economy $650 million, approximately $130 million per day.

That kind of loss to the economy affects the cashflow to fund about 6,000 American jobs, the association said. Every international flight bound for the U.S. is worth an average of $450,000 in spending from travelers, which the association says pays for five jobs per flight.

"While safety must always be the primary consideration, economies, particularly those recovering from recession, cannot afford an overreaction that stifles travel completely," Roger Dow, the association's president and CEO, said in a statement.

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[Empire-George-]

Liberals do something, drive a prius, install a flourescent lightbulb, throw down a solar panel, something....because this Volcano and other volcanos release 250 tons of CO2 and pollution into the atmosphere every year, and this one costs us $650 million dollars in losses, forget what Europe lost....stop this nature made global warming, please !!!

[mljohns00]

So, where should we send our money to compensate these people?

[Empire-George-]

by mljohns00 April 21, 2010 4:58 AM EDT
So, where should we send our money to compensate these people?
__________

these people ? those who's flights were cancelled ? those stranded in a European vacation spot ? please explain, because the volcano is on a glacier, in Iceland....the only "people" are some local farmers/Icelanders.

[STBY21]

I wonder how much CO2 is being released into the air from this eruption. Maybe we should ban volcanos that emit too much CO2 or make the country where they are located pay for huge carbon offset credits. I bet Al Gore could make a ton of money off of that scheme too.

Quick Al, fly to Copenhagen and get back on the soapbox.

[maiingan]

If I had the writing talent, I think I'd write an imaginary news-report-from-the-past about how folks downwind from the cataclysmic eruption of Thera in the Mediterranean were complaining about its effect on their shipping.

[vkmo]

Airlines insist they won't crash
They are losing lots of cash
Flying is held up due to ash
Be easy on them, donot bash!!

[pensacola8-2009]

650 million dollars is very small compared to a major hurricane. Hurricane Ivan in 1994 that struck Pensacola cost 4 billion dollars. Katrina in 05 was far greater than that.

The European nations are experiencing far greater distress.

In financial market news, the geographic location for the USA does give an advantage during the industrial impacts from this volcanic eruption.

[vkmo]

Airlines insist they won't crash
They are losing lots of cash
Flying is held up due to ash
Be easy on them, donot bash!!

[Empire-George-]

the volcano, the ash
the planes, lost cash
Don't fly, or you'll crash
Don't complain, or trash

How's that ?

[timdgrim]

Airline lawyers are just itching to sue Mother Nature over this. In perspective:$650 Million OR just a very few days of the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan Occupation.

[STBY21]

This volcanic eruption is all George Bush's fault.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

Yeah, OK What about what this has done to the economy in Europe???

this stype of report is just plain arrogant and stupid! Oh yes, we are losing money in tourist trade, the USA could care less about the saftey of those who would fly through the volcanic ash!

Screw safety we just want the money!

What about all of those who are stranded here and because of the airline policies on acts of nature, they are spending money here just to stay here. This BS tyoe of article really makes the USA look bad - greedy in fact.