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If the ash cloud lasts weeks ?

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If the ash cloud lasts weeks ?

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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 6:12 pm
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If the ash cloud lasts weeks ?

This is not a "I'm stranded" type query so I did not include in the consolidated thread.

It is not unprecedented for ash clouds like this to last for weeks and even months. Fortunately most have been over poles, not heavy airspace. What are DL's options for resuming some level of ops if the cloud continues for a very long time? Can they re-route south? Go into Madrid/Rome and increase low altitude shuttles into EU? I'm assuming there is no even remotely easy way to mod planes to be able to deal with it.
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 6:19 pm
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If Alaska in recent years or even Mt. St. Helens or other volcanoes in recent history is any indication, it won't last weeks on end with no flights. It might disrupt air travel again after it clears but I highly doubt it will last weeks on end.

But it is anyone's guess.

You say it is not unprecedented to last weeks or months. Do you have a reference/link to specific examples?
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 6:42 pm
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Originally Posted by fti
If Alaska in recent years or even Mt. St. Helens or other volcanoes in recent history is any indication, it won't last weeks on end with no flights. It might disrupt air travel again after it clears but I highly doubt it will last weeks on end.

But it is anyone's guess.

You say it is not unprecedented to last weeks or months. Do you have a reference/link to specific examples?
Might be referring to this volcano, news reports have said it last errupted 1 or 2 hundred years ago and last 1-2 years.
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 7:01 pm
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This is an interesting question and I don't believe it is DL-specific. Therefore, I ask you to continue to follow this discussion in TravelBuzz.
Thanks...
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 9:05 pm
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In this situation, one type of plane that would be in high demand as a low-flying shuttle in Europe would be the Bombardier Q400 turboprop.
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 9:35 pm
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Originally Posted by fti
If Alaska in recent years or even Mt. St. Helens or other volcanoes in recent history is any indication, it won't last weeks on end with no flights. It might disrupt air travel again after it clears but I highly doubt it will last weeks on end.

But it is anyone's guess.

You say it is not unprecedented to last weeks or months. Do you have a reference/link to specific examples?
The last time this volcano erupted it lasted for over a year. Eyjafjallajokull has had erupted 5 times in the last 1000 years; 920, 1612, 1821-1823 and now in 2010. Every single one of the previous eruptions was a precursor to a much larger eruption of the neighboring Katla volcano. We are very likely in this for the long haul. I honestly could see air traffic around Europe being disrupted for the next year and possibly more.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 2:03 am
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Originally Posted by tonywestsider
In this situation, one type of plane that would be in high demand as a low-flying shuttle in Europe would be the Bombardier Q400 turboprop.
Well, the Isles of Scilly service from lands end has now closed because ash was found on an aircraft and that only reaches a height of 1,500 feet.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 2:04 am
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http://www.freightercruises.com/frames.php



Hasn't anyone just thought to flying to Spain or Italy and then taking a train up to Northern Europe?
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 4:45 am
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Thumbs up

I've actually heard of that firm before. I am considering booking a Los Angeles-Pusan,Korea Sailing in December.

I graduate from University in December and I will then be moving to Korea for my MBA studies and teaching English. I would like a really interesting and relaxing time to sit back and reflect on life and not have the rush and bustle of getting quickly from point a to point b... Might be interesting to meet new people and have the feeling of a private experience.



Originally Posted by Wiirachay
http://www.freightercruises.com/frames.php



Hasn't anyone just thought to flying to Spain or Italy and then taking a train up to Northern Europe?
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 4:48 am
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Can't believe it. They still exist. All my life I've heard people tell how they got a cheap ticket on a freighter. Always thought, "Comes a time when that'll get shut down by shippers". Guess the time is still to come.

My father was an immigrant and came to the US on the Stavanger, a commercial Norwegian ship. He wrote stuff in a diary about the voyage. Pretty interesting.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 6:06 am
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Originally Posted by Wiirachay
http://www.freightercruises.com/frames.php



Hasn't anyone just thought to flying to Spain or Italy and then taking a train up to Northern Europe?
If you can get on a train, everything's booked up, you can't even get a hire car at some places and the ferries to the UK have stopped taking foot passengers.

Tens of thousands of Brits are trying to get back from their easter break
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 9:58 am
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Originally Posted by beergut
Well, the Isles of Scilly service from lands end has now closed because ash was found on an aircraft and that only reaches a height of 1,500 feet.
It seems like some airports and airspace are still no-fly regardless of a/c mode.

Don't forget bus services if you are traveling on the continent. Also, one could use a combination of public transport and commuter rail or regional train to get somewhere if hi-speed trains are overloaded. Anticipate long travel times and crowding if you choose that itinerary.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 10:39 am
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Can't believe it. They still exist. All my life I've heard people tell how they got a cheap ticket on a freighter. Always thought, "Comes a time when that'll get shut down by shippers". Guess the time is still to come.
Thought about that also, but the idea of rogue waves keeps me off of transatlantic ships.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 10:48 am
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KLM and others have been conducting a number of test flights and indicating that their aircraft are not being impacted in any way by the ash and thus pushing for airspace to be reopened. One concern I would have though is that I assume the ash content isn't very consistent so what happens if you get thicker ash or more abrasive ash...

I'd think that flying north of the volcano and then as far south into EU as possible would be an option. MSP>Stockholm normally goes north of Iceland so others could push there. Biggest problem would likely be the airports they could safely reach (depending on what is considered safe by who with the ash) aren't setup to handle that much traffic.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 11:02 am
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according to Euronews German air space was opened for 3 hours allowing a window of flights to arrive from the East as there was a break in ash cloud.


Lufthansa too is pushing for the closure of air space to be reconsidered... saw one of their test B747's on the news landing in Frankfurt.
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