The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruptions caused the worst air travel disruption in Europe since World War II, grounding approximately 10 million travellers.
Key Facts
- Airspace closure period
- 15–20 April 2010
- Countries that closed airspace
- ~20
- Travellers affected
- ~10 million
- Tephra ejected (phase 2)
- 250 million cubic metres
- Ash plume height
- ~9 km
- Volcanic Explosivity Index (phase 2)
- 4
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Seismic activity beneath Eyjafjallajökull began intensifying at the end of 2009. On 20 March 2010, a small initial eruption rated 1 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index commenced. A second, far more powerful eruptive phase began on 14 April 2010, generating a large ash plume rated 4 on the VEI, which drifted across Northern Europe under prevailing atmospheric conditions.
From 14 to 20 April 2010, an ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull blanketed large areas of Northern Europe, prompting approximately 20 countries to close their airspace to commercial jet traffic. The second eruptive phase ejected an estimated 250 million cubic metres of tephra and sent an ash plume to roughly 9 km altitude. Eruptive activity continued at reduced intensity until June 2010, with the eruption officially declared over in October 2010.
The airspace closures caused the highest level of air travel disruption in Europe since the Second World War, affecting approximately 10 million travellers and resulting in massive economic losses for airlines and related industries. The crisis prompted reviews of European airspace management protocols and the thresholds used to assess volcanic ash safety for aviation.