Monthly Archive for May, 2010

Last month millions of air travelers suffered the recent Volcanic ash cloud over Northern Europe which was caused by the sudden unexpected volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Euro airspace including the UK and Ireland were completely closed for more than 10 days. Over a billion US$ loss was faced by airline companies operating in the affected region.

“The volcanic ash cloud is a very significant threat to air safety. National authorities are required to take decisions to ensure safety under international law, such as closure of airspace and airports, without discrimination between airlines”, says Vice President of European Commission, Siim Kallas.

According to Dr. Dougal Jerram, an earth scientist at the University of Durham, UK, “Eruptions which are charged with gas start to froth and expand as they reach the surface. This results in explosive eruptions and this fine ash being sent up into the atmosphere. If it is ejected high enough, the ash can reach the high winds and be dispersed around the globe, for example, from Iceland to Europe. These high winds are exactly where the aeroplanes cruise.” Volcanic ash can harm a plane mainly in four ways:

• Sandblasting effect – blinding pilots’ windscreen, endangering propellers
• Clogging of the plane’s sensor – blocking aircraft’s pilot tubes
• Electromagnetic wave insulation – disturbing communication by radio
• Combustion power failure – causing erosion and destroys compressor

With such harmful effects on an airplane, airline companies are left with no choice but to face the worst nightmare and sooth stranded passengers. Hotels across all the European countries and UK were packed with disturbed passengers. Many hired taxis to cross countries, like a business man paid a cab driver over a thousand pounds to reach Paris from London.

In such a hazardous situation, passengers and stranded travelers are always in a need to minimize the extended budget costs. Contacting their loved ones and informing them about their situation is very necessary, and this is the reason last month telephone companies and cellular companies across UK and Europe observed large amount of new customers buying new SIM cards and utilizing phone booths.

FriendCaller also observed more customers connecting through WiFi hot-spots around Europe and UK to make free international and long distance calls with their loved ones over the FriendCaller network. FriendCaller is proud to serve its new customers in a catastrophic situation like this and guarantees their customers for lowest call rates around the world with top quality customer support.

As of today’s news about the new Volcanic ash forming above Scotland and Ireland airspace, more flights across UK are grounded. Forecasters warn about the ash cloud spreading towards south and predicts more UK airports being shut down. In the next 24 hours more passengers may experience delayed or cancelled flights. The CAA and NATS have confirmed the closure of Belfast, Derry, Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick until at least 24:00hrs today, Wednesday 5th May.

We will recommend the stranded passengers to connect with our telephonic solution to save money, so that they can manage their budget for the unexpected extended stay efficiently. We pray for all passengers to reach their destination safe and sound.