Ash Attack shows real value of aviation to global economic and social fabric. More shocks to come

Aviation's value in world commerce and communications is generally taken for granted - until it stops. Ask any travel agent or airline today what the social wear and tear has been as a result of the ash cloud over Europe; from deep inconvenience to family tragedies, surface transport options have proven woefully inadequate to fill the gap, even those within Europe, let alone the hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded around the world.