Volcanic ash cloud has caused chaos in Europe with most internal flights being canceled and affecting long haul flights to and from European destinations.  Passengers are stranded all over the world as the volcanic eruption in Iceland has caused tons of volcanic ash to be carried into the atmosphere, covering most of Europe and reaching all the way across the Atlantic to Canada (map below courtesy of BBC and the UK Met Office).

The shutdown of flights and airports by the volcanic ash cloud is costing the airline industry millions every day ($200 million a day). Apparently the volcanic ash can damage jet engines, the hot temperatures inside jet engines turns the ash or dust into damaging particles.  Although now the airline companies are disputing the possible damage caused from volcanic ash and carrying out their own flight tests.

Who would think that a volcanic ash cloud in Iceland of all places could affect travel all over the world – And Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull volcano of all of them – just how do you pronounce that??? Can you imagine all the news presenters around the world practicing to say “Eyjafjallajoekull volcano”?

If you are traveling check out your airport’s websites or look at this great site for flight traffic over Europe – flightradar24.com – to help you avoid the volcanic ash cloud!