Report: Volcano Ash Cloud Costs U.S. $650 Million
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.
More on Volcano Fallout: Ash and Travel Woes
Flights Go Airborne With Cheers, More Ash
To Fly or Not to Fly? That's No Easy Question
Millions of Stranded Travelers Given Hope
Volcano Spews Less Ash as Lava Boils Up
More Ash Fallout: 10 Million Roses Ruined
Volcanic Ash Puts Organ Transplants in Peril
Volcano Cloud's Impact: Some $2B and Counting
Stranded Travelers Seek Alternate Routes
Volcanic Eruption Grinds Modern World to a Halt
Video:
Amazing Images of Iceland Volcano