Volcanic Ash Cloud

[SparrowHawk]

I wonder if since all these flights have been grounded now for 4 days and counting including inter-Europe if this will create a fuel surplus thus lowering the cost of oil and fuel? Comments..............

That's a great question. I just wonder if the percentage of flights cancelled is enough to impact the global oil markets for any significant length of time.

I think you'll see a brief tick downward for a period of time relatively equal to the length of the disruption.

 

[Seatacus]

I forget exactly where, but there was a discussion on this exact thing and what basically came from it was that there is no need for carbon offset for a natural phenomenon. Iceland did nothing to create the incident, it was going to happen regardless.

I was just kidding but it sounds like someone may have been serious about it.

And also the effects of the eruption actually reverse the effects of global warming as the silicate in the ash reflects sunlight thus cooling the earth. Carbon emissions do not and trap heat already here further warming it. So if anything Iceland should get a major credit! 🙂

I wonder if people will start to realize how insignificant we are and what gases we put out into the environment are negligible.

 

[notquiteUS]

Send the 330s between the hubs! They aren't making $ just sitting there

 

[AirbusA310]

Send the 330s between the hubs! They aren't making $ just sitting there

That would make sence and there is none of that at the Golden Castus in PHX..

 

[Dog Wonder]

People are migrating to Southern Europe by any means possible from places airspace is closed.

Reallocate where there is demand.

 

[BoeingBoy]

That's a great question. I just wonder if the percentage of flights cancelled is enough to impact the global oil markets for any significant length of time.

Just the U.S. uses about 20 million barrels of crude a day - that's over 800 million gallons. The world uses about 85 million barrels a day, or about 3.5 trillion gallons/day. Unless this causes the world economy, or at least the U.S. and Europe economies, to decline again it won't make much difference. The fuel not burned by flights to/from Europe is a drop in the bucket.

Jim

 

[BoeingBoy]

Note: hiccup doing the mental math in the above post. World usage of crude is 3.5 billion gallons/day, not trillions.

Jim

 

[A320 Driver]

Note: hiccup doing the mental math in the above post. World usage of crude is 3.5 billion gallons/day, not trillions.

Jim

And since oil prices do not follow "supply and demand", it wouldn't make any difference anyway. The speculators set the price of crude. Fox News did a great piece on this last week. Speculators undid this economy with $140/barrel crude, and they can do it again.

Of course, I didn't mind a little time off 🙂

Driver B)

 

[28L_or_10R?]

Oil plunges below $81 on volcano, Goldman jitters Oil dives over $2 to below $81 in Europe as volcano ash cloud undermine economic recovery
Oil prices plunged more than $2 to below $81 a barrel Monday, extending big losses on expectations that disruption to air travel from the Icelandic volcano will lower demand for jet fuel and uncertaintly about whether it would hamper the global economic recovery.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for May delivery was down $2.33 to $80.91 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

A huge cloud of volcanic ash has shut down air traffic in most of Europe for four days -- stranding passengers and scuttling travel plans and freight services that could end up costing billions of dollars.

At the very least, traders say the volcano crisis will lower demand from airlines for jet fuel.

 

[john john]

BAM!

 

[HP2USFA]

The fuel not burned by flights to/from Europe is a drop in the bucket.
Jim

For us, yes, but we're talking several countries worth of no flying. Not just to and from Europe.

 

[BoeingBoy]

For us, yes, but we're talking several countries worth of no flying. Not just to and from Europe.

True, but the TA and Asia to Europe are the flights that use the most fuel. Most of the cancellations are shorter haul intra-Europe and Russia/Middle East/N Africa to Europe.

I'd note that the dollar has strengthened lately and that also drives crude prices down. Still, the biggest factor is speculation about how much damage the volcano will do to the economy, especially Europe.

Jim

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

Send the 330s between the hubs! They aren't making $ just sitting there

How about putting a 330 on the BCN run?
Or an extra section to MAD; many people are making their way to Spain or Italy in hopes of getting a flight.

 

[RealisticObserver]

Does anyone know what US is doing with the aircraft that are normally flying these runs. Have they taken the opportunity to complete any deferred smaller maintenance issues, or perhaps cleaned the inside of the planes, or fixed cabin issues that only affect passengers? Have they taken this opportunity to fix 251's exhaust/intake in the cabin issue? Or have these planes been used elsewhere where deman is needed.

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

Does anyone know what US is doing with the aircraft that are normally flying these runs. Have they taken the opportunity to complete any deferred smaller maintenance issues, or perhaps cleaned the inside of the planes, or fixed cabin issues that only affect passengers? Have they taken this opportunity to fix 251's exhaust/intake in the cabin issue? Or have these planes been used elsewhere where deman is needed.

I consulted my Magic Eight Ball and it answered, "Very doubtful".