Icelandair is the first new carrier to initiate transatlantic service at DIA in more than 10 years.

“I’m looking forward to the relationship between the City and County of Denver and Icelandair, and to personally welcoming the first flight from Reykjavik,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “This flight will allow us to continue to bring new global opportunities to our state and to stimulate growth in our economy. It will also open our doors to new markets and allow our business and leisure travelers to enjoy an easy one-stop connection to Scandinavia, the U.K. and Europe.”

“We are elated to have been chosen as Icelandair’s newest North American market,” said DIA Aviation Manager Kim Day. “As the fifth-busiest airport in the United States, DIA serves more than 160 destinations nonstop, providing incredible access to international travelers. Visitors from Iceland will discover a world of adventure in and around Denver, as well as points beyond.”

“We were thrilled to choose Denver from a short-list of potential new gateway cities, as we feel it is a natural fit for Icelandair,” said Birkir Holm Gudnasson, CEO of Icelandair. “Denverites will love the nature, lifestyle and culture of Iceland, while Icelanders will feel at home with the landscape, active lifestyle and independent philosophy in Denver.”

Beginning May 11, 2012, Icelandair will operate four nonstop flights per week from DIA. The airline’s fleet of Boeing 757 aircraft will provide convenient access to Europe through its Reykjavik hub at Keflavik International Airport. The route will give travelers direct access to Iceland as well as connection points to London, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Manchester and Glasgow, among other cities. Denver is the ninth North American city to be served by Icelandair.

“Savvy travelers of Denver will now have a fresh alternative when traveling to Europe. Icelandair is happy to enter this city with competitive airfares and convenient routes to Iceland and onward,” said Thorsteinn Egilsson, general manger of Icelandair, The Americas.

“DIA is Colorado’s gateway to the world and a $22 billion economic engine for the state,” said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. “Icelandair’s service to Denver will create jobs in Colorado and bring new global opportunities to the entire region.”

Europe ranks as Denver’s largest international market, accounting for one-third of DIA’s international origination and destination travel. Even with daily flights to London (British Airways) and Frankfurt (Lufthansa Airlines), Denver has been underserved in transatlantic access. The new air service is expected to bring nearly 300 jobs to Colorado, including 33 direct jobs, generating an estimated $9 million in wages and more than $19 million in tourism spending. Visit Denver, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the State of Colorado, the Colorado Tourism Office and Colorado Ski Country USA have all committed to supporting the new initiative through marketing dollars and other means.

“Tourism is one of the region’s biggest potential growth markets and is already Denver’s second-largest industry, generating $3 billion in annual spending while supporting 50,000 jobs,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “A new nonstop, transatlantic flight is a huge selling factor for Denver. In recent years, the convention industry has seen its largest growth come from international attendees. Making Colorado easily accessible to visitors from Scandinavia, Europe and the U.K. will attract large international conventions and open the region to new opportunities.”

“We always believed that a third carrier out of Denver could serve northern Europe and Scandinavia, where business synergies have increased over the last several years,” said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. “The addition of Icelandair as our newest carrier affirms the confidence that northern Europe has in the metro Denver and Colorado markets.”

“Attracting international guests to visit Colorado’s world-class ski resorts has been a long-standing priority of Colorado Ski Country USA,” said Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. “The Icelandair service will really enhance the options for Colorado-bound skiers from Scandanavia, Europe and Iceland, helping to make Colorado an even more attractive winter holiday destination. Skiers will help to balance out the seasonality in traffic from these markets. We are proud to have worked in partnership with our business friends in Denver to attract Icelandair.”

Additional information about Icelandair routes, fares and travel packages are available on the airline’s website, www.icelandair.us

Though many may think of long dark nights and bleak white expanses, Iceland is actually a country full of color and life. And as it is only five hours from Boston, it is a great escape or the perfect base camp for a further excursion to Europe and other points east. In fact, Iceland Air (www.icelandair.com) is currently offering packages in which travelers can stopover in Iceland for up to seven days en route to any other destination with no additional fees!

The Country

As the historic home of Leif Erickson, Iceland is proud of its Viking roots and still attributes much of its magic and charm to the presence of the mysterious “invisible people” who live in rocks and trees and bring joy and intrigue to the country and its people. Though most natives will not admit to believing in these elves and trolls, few will deny having seen them!

A nation of about 320,000 people (300,000 of whom live in the capital of Reykjavik), “suburban” Iceland is greatly spread out and can make for a wide array of adventures- from “super Jeep” rides (www.icelandrovers.is) up and snowmobiling around eternal glaciers to flyovers of the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull (commonly known by non-native speakers as “E-15,” which stands for the first letter of the name meaning “island mountain glacier” and the number of letters that follow) that brought European air travel to a halt in April of 2010. If a two-ton modified diesel truck is not your idea of a fun way to see “E-15,” visit the new visitors’ center based on the farm that was closest (and so most affected) by the 2010 blast and meet the farmer who made it through (www.thorvaldseyri.is).

Getting There

Now that the airlines are back up and running, Iceland is an easy trip from the US. Iceland Air recently began departures from Dulles International and also serves such locations as New York, Seattle, and Toronto, Canada.

If you really want to make it a glamorous excursion, be sure to book Iceland Air’s Saga Class. With this package, you can travel like a Viking rock star, bypassing the check-in crowds and waiting for your plane in a luxury lounge that offers gourmet food, an open and well-stocked bar, Wi-Fi, TVs, international publications and the attention and amenities to which you should be accustomed. Once on board, enjoy a (real) glass of (real) champagne before settling in to your extra-wide, extra-comfy leather seat for a first-class meal and first-run movie or current TV shows from either the US or Iceland. You can even watch videos about Iceland and maybe learn a few words in this ancient and mysterious country’s ancient and (to many) mysterious language!

Once you land, there are plenty of taxis and shuttles for the scenic 40-minute trip from the former NATO base in Keflavik to Reykjavik. Here, you will meet a community of artisans and entrepreneurs from all walks of life and more nationalities than you might expect. In fact, every May, the city celebrates its diversity with a multi-cultural parade that fills the main streets with color and music and helps demonstrate all that the city and the country have to offer.

Getting A Sense of the Place

To get a good sense of the city, be sure to book a tour with the local experts at New Moments (www.moments.is) who will show you the first home and even the first tree in Reykjavik as well as bringing you behind the scenes and in front of the lines at many of the city’s finest shops, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

After your tour, take some time to wander up and down the hill from the seaside to the top of the hill, which is overlooked by the impressive architecture of Hallgrimur’s Church (Hallgrimskirkja).

Shopping

Along the way, be sure to stop in the many galleries and shops, including Geysir (www.geysirshops.is) and Kraum (www.kraum.is), an artist’s collective that is housed in the oldest standing house in the city. For the fashionista, designers like Elm (www.elm.is), Farmers Market (www.farmersmarket.is), M-Design (www.cold.is), Steinunn (www.steinunn.com), and private shopping experiences at Volcano Design (www.volcanodesign,is) are sure to excite and entrance with their creative couture. For the adventurer types, there are plenty of 66° North stores (www.66north,com), which are the Icelandic version of North Face. For the more light-hearted or young at heart, you are sure to get a smile from the pile of puffins at Lundinn Souvenir stores downtown and at the airport. If you cannot make up your mind about which items to buy, many Icelandic stores also have outposts in the US. Still, there is something about buying right from the artist, especially when many of them run their own stores! Another great way to find one-of-a-kind items is to contact the crafters directly through the Handverk og Honnun Crafts and Design site (www.craftsanddesign.com) that catalogs many of the island nation’s most progressive and popular independent artists, designers and, of course, knitters.

Culture

Though Reykjavik may not be as much of a business center as other European capitals (which may actually be a good thing!), there is still plenty of culture and vibrance to be found. In addition to the many galleries and shops that feature local handicrafts ranging from the world-famous woolens to jewelry made from the same volcanic lava that continues to shape and reshape this small but great city, Reykjavik is also the home of the Reykjavik Jazz Festival (www.reykjavikjazz.is/) and the Iceland Airwaves Festival (www.icelandairwaves.is/) which has been called the best long-weekend festival in the world by “Rolling Stone.” In May of 2011, the city also opened the doors of the long-awaited Harpa Concert and Conference Center (en.harpa.is/) – a gorgeous glass and steel state-of-the-art waterfront performance and meeting space with a 1,800-seat acoustically-convertible main hall that is now the home of the Reykjavik Opera and Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, as well as performances by musicians and other artists from all over the world.

After you evening of high culture, linger over a coffee or one of the many local beers and drinks (Blenevin, anyone?) and watch downtown come alive! Reykjavik offers everything from friendly pubs to raging clubs and everyone seems to be out at the same time. Most venues have no cover and many have live music. While there is usually something going on every night, the weekends are when locals let loose, cruising down the slender main drag and reveling in the nightlife of a city that knows about night.

When to Go

Speaking of which, timing your trip can make a major difference in your experience. Summer visitors will probably lose track of time as the sun rarely ever sets (at least fully). As most clubs are open until 5 AM, it is easy to dance until dawn and then to grab some coffee and keep on going. If you go in the winter to ice climb and catch the Northern Lights, that may be all the light you see. But never fear- Icelanders know how to pass the time with story and song and are always happy to have new friends join in the frosty fun.

Where to Stay

As far as where to stay, there are many options, including quaint bed and breakfasts and historic hotels like the 1919 (www.radissonblu.com/1919hotel-reykjavik) and Hotel Holt (www.holt.is/). The first of these is a converted warehouse that is now a loft-styled Radisson Blu property situated steps from everything in Reykjavik. The Holt features the largest private art collection in the area as well as the custom-made French stove on which all of Iceland’s best chefs (and many local and visiting foodies) train before going off on their own. Needless to say, the food is exquisite and a four-course price fix starts at just $50 (give or take fluctuating exchange rates)! When Yoko Ono dedicated the peace bell on what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, the “Cold Turkey” and Strawberry Fields” were made in this kitchen. Yoko herself chose, however, to stay a bit out of town, at the uptown and upscale high rise that is the Hilton Nordica (www.HiltonReykjavik.com), home of Vox Restaurant (www.vox.is/en). In addition to Ms. Ono, the Presidential Suite at the Nordica has also hosted other international icons as well as many world leaders. And as getting into town is so easy, you may appreciate the change of pace that comes from leaving downtown for a few hours. If you want to get away from the lights completely, there is no place like the rustic yet thoroughly luxurious hunting lodge that is Hotel Ranga (www.hotelranga.is/). Run by a fishing magnate who is also a close friend of the Swedish royal family (among others who he will not name in order to allow them to stay with him without drumming up publicity), Ranga was the epicenter of eruption coverage in 2010 and continues to play to packed houses, thanks in great part to its delectable dining, inventive rooms (including a series of inter-continentally themed suites) and exquisite service. Anything you ask for can be provided, from the first bottle of a limited-edition 40-year-old scotch to a masterful massage, an indoor or outdoor hut tub or even printouts of Internet searches used to answer any question you may ask.

Where to Eat

In addition to the amazing hotel food, Iceland also sports some of the world’s best fish. From European royalty to rock heroes like Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl, and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson (who is actually a part-time pilot for an Icelandic airline) many claim their favorite places to catch the daily catch are in Iceland. Among the best places to go fish are The Seafood Cellar (http://sjavarkjallarinn.is/), The Seafood Grill (www.sjavargrillid.is), The Fish Company (www.fishcompany.is), and, at the risk of breaking up a titular theme, Grohl’s “favorite” lobster place, The Seashore Restaurant (www.fjorubordid.is).

Another must-see/must-eat in Reykjavik is “The Pearl” (www.perlan.is), a rotating restaurant set atop six giant tanks each of which contains1 million gallons of the geothermal hot water that warms and powers most of this country. From breakfast herring to smoked salmon to (ahem!) fermented shark, Iceland’s creativity can be seen as much on its plates as in its sweaters.

In addition to the famed woolens, Iceland’s free-range sheep are also used to prepare some of the best lamb in the world (including the meat that goes in the Bubba-blessed hot dogs that are sold in Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur’s world-famous seaside cart (www.bbp.is) at which fans line up every hour of the day). Nothing goes to waste in this ancient and progressive culture!

Where to Relax

As the time of year can determine the pace of your trip, so too can the type of vacationer you are. If you want to spend your days relaxing at a spa, Iceland has one of the world’s most famous in the Blue Lagoon (www.bluelagoon.com), which is located only minutes from the airport and makes for a wonderful finale to an inspirational journey. If you want to earn your relaxation, there is plenty of hiking, biking, fishing, snowmobiling, helicopter touring and other more active pursuits. It all depends on your energy level.

Speaking of energy (and also of the Lagoon), Iceland is a world leader not only in literacy (we could learn a lot from how they learn!) but also in terms of renewable energy. Iceland is currently 70 percent renewable in terms of its energy uses (it would be more were it not for the totally pimped-out SUVs that are used to carry locals and tourists alike around the glaciers) and is constantly improving! In addition to being a center of psychic activity, the bubbling pools that literally journey from the center of the earth also power some of the most efficient and effective geothermal plants in the world. In fact, it is the highly therapeutic mineral runoff from one of these plants that created the Lagoon.

So whether you are looking to unwind and rest en route to the Continent or to find a new favorite destination, Iceland has the mix of personal attention and personal freedom that allows and encourages all visitors to feel at home and to find their own way.

Image via pocruises.com

ICELAND (eTN) – The Grimsvotn Lakes eruption in Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland seems to be over. Volunteers from the general public, unpaid rescue team workers, as well as the minister of tourism have joined hands to help the local people in a cleanup operation.

The eruption in Grimsvotn Lakes started Saturday, May 21, and produced more ash in only a couple of days than the infamous Eyjafjallajokull’s much longer eruption in 2010. This time, however, the ash was not as fine grained and did not spread as much as in last year‘s eruption, which is particularly good news for the aviation and tourism industries.

Iceland‘s international airport in Keflavik, 35 miles from the capital city Reykjavik, was closed one day as a safety precaution. In hindsight, it may not have been necessary to close the airport as the ash cloud did not reach it. Aviation authorities in Europe had better information this time on which to base airport closures than during last year‘s eruption. The experience gained from last year’s eruption avoided a repeat aviation chaos across Europe.

Ash is being cleaned from roads, village streets, residences, and institutions in the affected area south of the volcano.

The summer tourist season is under way and tourists have returned to the area.

Image via sott.net

Touching down in Newark, NJ for the aircraft’s first North American voyage on May 13, Captain Dickinson comments, “I love New York City and it is great to fly there – even better to fly there on the same Boeing 757 that we just flew around the world on our Final Frontier tour. I think it is very cool that the colors of the Iron Maiden livery have stayed on the plane, which of course was named Ed Force One by our Iron Maiden fans.”

In between writing and composing music, Dickinson has logged 7,000+ hours as a commercial pilot employed by Astraeus, which operates regularly for IEX as well as other international carriers such as BMI and British Airways. Following the band’s recent world tour aboard Ed Force One the plane was added to the IEX fleet and will begin servicing two new destinations in North America later this month; Boston Logan (BOS) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD). The affordable airline has offered regular seasonal flights to New York Newark (EWR) and periodic service to Winnipeg (YWG) in the last year, but will expand service to all four airports in June. Friday, May 13 was the date chosen by Captain Dickinson to fly Ed Force One into Newark’s Liberty Airport on its regularly scheduled flight where touchdown is slated for 7:55pm.

For the duration of the summer, the plane will service each of the new North American destinations often, with some flights continuing service to cities in Europe after stopovers in Iceland. Regular daily flights will be serviced by Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 757-200 aircrafts in Iceland Express’ fleet. Flights will service EWR once daily Monday through Friday through June 9, and service will expand to once daily seven days a week beginning June 10 through August 31.

New York based press can inquire regarding interview with Captain Dickinson or Mr. Imsland. For more information or photos of Ed Force One please contact Lisa Pinghera at +1 (703) 417-2700.

For more information about Iceland Express and its expanded presence in North America, visit www.icelandexpress.com.

About Iceland Express

Iceland Express, which launched in 2003, is Iceland’s low-fare airline. During the winter, the low-cost carrier connects the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík with seven countries – Spain, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, the UK, USA and Poland. In the summer, the airline offers 23 routes to passengers.

Iceland Express offers a healthy onboard menu and is the first low-fare carrier to offer iPads as in-flight entertainment. The airline has no length-of-stay restrictions, no Sunday rule and easy online booking. Iceland Express also offers a 25% discount for children under 12.

According to the Icelandic Tourism Board, tourism to Iceland has increased by more than 22 per cent since 2003, due largely to the travel options provided by Iceland Express. The airline has experienced strong support from Icelanders too, who have increased their travelling by 35 per cent since Iceland Express first took to the air.

For reservations, go to www.icelandexpress.com

ICELAND (eTN) – “Geothermal water is Iceland‘s white gold,” according to guest speaker Ms. Csilla Mezösi speaking at the annual meeting of the Iceland Association for Health Tourism. Ms Mezösi is a consultant for health tourism at the Hungarian Tourism Board and a board member of the European Spa Association.

Iceland’s most famous commercial spa is the Blue Lagoon, which is visited by more than 400,000 people annually. Myvatn Nature Baths can be described as a newer but much smaller version of the same. Fontana Steam Bath capitalizes on a natural steam vent next to Laugarvatn Lake and is scheduled to open this summer.

Mezösi believes Iceland’s abundant supply of geothermal energy provides the opportunity for the development of health tourism, which is still in its infancy in Iceland. “Iceland has barely started tapping into this genre of tourism,” she said, and pointed out the lack of information on the number of tourists who actually visit Iceland with the purpose of improving their health.

Mezösi complimented Reykjavik’s public geothermal swimming pools for their quality and cleanliness and pointed out some opportunities, such as: build hotels next to the pools for greater convenience for foreign visitors; organize dance parties in the thermal pools in winter to attract young tourists in the low season; and finally, get the Olympic handball team medalists to promote health tourism in Iceland.

Health tourism incorporates both spa tourism, as well as medical tourism. “However, a typical spa tourist focuses on different things than a medical tourist. Spa tourism involves a holiday whereas medical tourism involves cost-effective operations but more importantly guarantee of a follow-up service after the treatment.”

Medical tourism in Hungary is big business. “German pensioners, as well as British, Norwegian, and Danish, are most likely to enjoy the benefit of high-quality dental treatment and various operations in Hungary for less money than what they’d spend in their home country. The medical tourism product in Hungary has evolved to such an extent that it is now possible for foreign tourists to receive a door-to-door service including accommodation and activities for the duration of their stay in Hungary.”

Mezösi also mentioned that there are 4,000 foreign medical students studying in Hungary. “Our goal is to involve these students in medical and balneology research in order to learn more about the healing powers of geothermal water, thus benefiting the medical tourism industry.”

The Hungarian government actively promotes medical tourism. It also spends money on marketing medical tourism which Mezösi thinks is a good idea. “Whatever money the government spends it gets back several times,” Mezösi said.

Medical tourism has been made possible in Europe due to an EU law which makes it possible for European Union (EU) patients to receive treatment in any other member state such as Hungary and still get reimbursed by their medical insurance,” Mezösi explained.

The Icelandic state and other stakeholders grapple each other for money which is desperately needed in order to protect the country’s vulnerable nature and to provide essential services to the growing number of visitors.

Traditionally the state has been reluctant to spend money on tourism infrastructure and even more so after the economic collapse in 2008. Most stakeholders seem to agree that if the State doesn’t fund improvements then the visitor must. The actual implementation is more controversial.

“Ideally it would be best if the state ploughed some of its income from tourism back into tourism,” said Ursula Spitzbart founder of Reykjavik Bike Tours. Her bicycle tour company offers tours which include attraction entrance fee candidates Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir Geothermal area, and National park Thingvellir. “Surely the state makes enough money from the 600,000 foreign visitors who visit the country each year to be able to pay for toilet facilities and general maintenance at visitor attractions in Iceland.”

The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism currently explores ways to generate funds for visitor management. One idea the ministry came up with was to let hotel guest pay tax for each night. The Iceland Tour Operator Association (ITOA) strongly opposed this idea. Many of its members belong to the hospitality industry.

“It’s time to start charging visitors,” said Olafur Orn Haraldsson chief park ranger of Thingvellir national park was quoted in Frettabladid newspaper last week. Haraldsson suggested those who benefit financially from bringing guests into the park should pay ‘service fee’ of US$2-3 per person. The Iceland Tour Operator Association opposes all taxes and fees that only apply to the trade and not to the general public. Visitors to national parks and protected areas in Iceland have until now been exempt from charges in spite of the fact a law was passed in 1996 which allows visitors to be charged.

An arrival or departure tax has been proposed which would be applicable to all who travel to the country by sea or air. “An environmental tax is already in place in the airline industry in Europe and the amount depends on the distance travelled. A modest arrival or departure tax in the region of 4 US$ per person would be adequate to improve the poor situation at visitor attractions in Iceland,” said Thorir Gardarsson the sales and marketing manager of Iceland Excursions – Iceland’s largest tour operator. On a precautionary note he added, “The money, regardless of how it’s collected, must be used for what it is intended for, i.e., improvements at visitor attractions, not the government’s environmental pet projects.”

Timely notice of new taxes, service fees and charges is of utmost importance to the travel trade, especially tour operators who depend on a sales network. “We publish our prices 18 months in advance to wholesalers, DMCs, travel agents and information centers. In order to publish the correct price we need to be aware of additional costs at least 18 months in advance,” said Spitzbart.

One discreet idea is to discontinue the current tax-refund scheme for foreign tourists and use a part of the value added tax (VAT) to pay for conservation and basic facilities at tourist attractions. Present level of VAT stands at 25 percent and tax-refund at 15 percent. Surely shopkeepers would object to the idea if it was to be pitched publicly.

It’s clear that much more money must be spent on conservation and preservation of natural attractions in Iceland than in the past. In the light of current economic situation it seems that the visitor will be footing the bill in one way or another. Feasible options mentioned in the current debate include arrival/departure tax, service fee and entrance fee at attractions.

(eTN) – Geothermal energy could answer a substantial part of the energy demands of many poorer countries, Iceland’s foreign minister said last week in New York, telling United Nations Member States that it was time to consider initiatives to transfer expertise and financing to those nations in need.

In an address to the General Assembly’s annual high-level segment, Össur Skarphédinsson said Iceland could draw on its experience to assist developing countries.

While the country dominated news headlines in April this year when an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption led to the temporary shutdown of air travel over much of Europe, Iceland has long used geothermal energy to meet its own energy needs.

“Geothermal will of course not on its own solve the climatic problems, but in some parts of the world it could, however, make a huge difference,” Foreign Minister Skarphédinsson said.

“In East Africa the utilization of geothermal potential could free the people of several nations from the bondage of energy poverty. They do, however, lack the geothermal expertise ¬ and the finance for the infrastructure.

“Iceland, therefore, has formally engaged in discussions with some of the big nations operating, for example, in East Africa, to form a partnership for a geothermal drive in countries with unused potential. Iceland would put up the expertise. The partners [would put up] the necessary finance. This initiative could enable some countries to escape from energy-poverty, industrialize without undue emissions, and embark on the road to prosperity.”

In a wide-ranging speech, the Icelandic foreign minister also discussed the recent global financial crisis, the impact of climate change, gender equality, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and human rights.

In June Iceland became the ninth country to legalize same-sex marriage, and Mr. Skarphédinsson said he “strongly urged other nations to remove all discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

(eTN) – The April 14, 2010 eruption by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, which spewed an ash plume which rose over three kilometers, gave not only the global travel and tourism sector heavy beating, but it impacted other sectors as well, said Adrian Cooper, who is the head of Oxford Economics.

He said, Eyjafjallajokull eruption caused the largest breakdown in European civil aviation since World War II over the course of one week. “Dramatic losses have been realized by the aviation, hospitality, trade, and corporate sectors around the world,

As a result, he stated that Oxford Economics was commissioned by Airbus to estimate how the crisis affected the global economy.

Adrian Cooper, citing figures from Eurocontrol, said over 100,000 flights were canceled from April 14 to 21, 2010, affecting more than seven million passengers.

The Oxford Economics head stated that the impact on the global GDP for the entire week of flight disruption totaled US$4.7 billion, with Europe bearing much of the brunt, followed by the Americas, then Middle East/Africa and Asia, respectively.

Cooper also said that the impact of Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruptions extend far more than just travel-related sectors. According to the Oxford Economics head, perishable goods losses amount to US$65 million in Africa alone, electrical parts and equipment lost over $100 million and productivity losses totaled up to US$280-US$700 million.

An ongoing crisis

According to Cooper, since the massive airspace shutdown in the first week, another 5,000 flights have been sporadically canceled. “This would add an additional 5 percent to the first week impacts on the basis of canceled flights – ie US$250 million extra lost GDP.”

So, Cooper said, the total cost now is US$5 billion lost GDP. “And these effects are continuing, creating ongoing uncertainty over future flight schedules which is damaging the global economy.”

Cooper announced these findings at the tenth annual global summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council, which was held at the Chinese capital city of Beijing.

ICELAND – The Eyjafjallajokull sub-glacial volcanic eruption in Iceland stopped this past Sunday – at least for now. Tour operators in Iceland hope for a swift return of international visitors to Iceland.

“The eruption has certainly affected our business like everyone else’s in the travel industry,” said Ursula Spitzbart, owner of Reykjavik Bike Tours. “Although the eruption never posed [a] direct threat to people, it caused much inconvenience to travelers whose flights were cancelled or diverted. Local farmers and livestock suffered for a few days in the midst of ash.”

Government statistics revealed more than a 20 percent drop in visitor numbers in April of this year compared to the same month last year. This grave situation prompted government and industry leaders to pool resources to promote the country abroad to the tune of US$5.4 million.

A new marketing campaign is being launched under the name, “Inspired by Iceland,” drawing, among other things, on candid video clips made for Internet use featuring actor Viggo Mortensen, author David Byrne, travel show host Steven Fry, and musician Eric Clapton, to name a few.

Volcanologists are reluctant to write the eruptions’ death certificate just yet even though there are no scientific signs that the mountain might continue erupting. Mt. Eyjafjallajokull’s last eruption took place in 1821. Back then it went on for two years with intermittent brakes.

Farmers in the affected area are busy catching up on spring and early summer chores, many of whom also offer accommodation to tourists.

IFALPA believes that a return to flight operations in Europe may be possible but only on the understanding that these decisions are safety rather than economically driven. Historical evidence of the effects of volcanic ash on aircraft demonstrates that this material presents a very real threat to flight safety and that consequently this threat should remain at the forefront of “return to flight” planning. Furthermore since aircraft are not certified for flight into volcanic ash, a “zero tolerance” approach to flight in areas where there are concentrations of ash must be maintained.

It is also true that past experience shows that with proper planning and implementation of flexible procedures safe flight operations in the vicinity of volcanic ash plumes is possible. An example of this being the procedures adopted in New Zealand in 1996 following the eruption of Mt. Ruapehu. That said, it should be also noted that, at present, there is a lack of data about the effect of light ash contamination on engine wear and performance. Naturally, this information is a vital part of the safety matrix and more data on is needed from engine manufacturers and research bodies.

Accordingly IFALPA argues for a return to flight based on the principle of risk minimisation. In this plan, all go-no go decisions would be made using the benefit of all available atmospheric conditions information this would include for example satellite imagery as well as short term metrological forecasts for the intended flight path. Using this data, flex- ible routings that will be buffered from no-fly zones by appropriate margins (measured in hundreds of miles initially) and thus allow safe flight can be predicted and used on a daily or even hourly basis.

Aircraft operated along such routings must be subject to rigorous pre and post flight inspection in order to ensure that any contamination from the ash plume was as expected and within safe limits. If any signs of ash impact are detected then the engines must be subject to internal investigation before the aircraft is released for flight.

To ensure confidence in the operational integrity of the procedure the return to flight should be phased so that initially flights only take place between city pairs forecasted to be not only entirely clear of ash for the period of flight but also separated by the significant margins detailed above.

The final and most important part of the plan is that the final “go-no go” decision must, as always, rest with the pilot in command.

In conclusion, IFALPA recognises that there are significant challenges facing the nations of Europe in creating a uni- fied approach to a return to safe flight operations. It also notes that using controlled capacity growth to manage flights safely and efficiently will present a wide range of tough questions that will require equally tough answers. However the Federation reminds both the industry and regulators that at all times these decisions must be rooted in the technical and safety arena un-influenced by economic or political considerations.

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations represents in excess of 100,000 pilots in more than 100 countries world-wide. The mission of IFALPA is to be the global voice of airline pilots, promoting the highest level of avi- ation safety and security world-wide and providing services, support and representation to all of its Member Associations.

See the Federation website www.ifalpa.org