20100420_Iceland volcano cloud: The economic impact

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk The most direct casualty of the ash is the airline industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that airlines are collectively losing £130m per day in lost revenues. Other transport companies are benefiting as passengers look for alternatives to flying. Ferry services have benefited from the flight restrictions The impact on the tourism industry is expected to be relatively small, if the disruption lasts no longer than a few days. Although the tourism industry will lose money from customers unable to make the trip, stranded passengers unable to return home will also be forced to spend more money than expected - offsetting some of those losses. International trade relies more heavily on road, rail and sea freight than it does on air freight. But the disruption has caused real problems for those trading perishable goods, including food and flowers, which depend on air freight. Productivity in the UK is expected to suffer due to workers being unable to return to work