Secondo me (che sto in ferie forzate ma molto benvenute), l'eventuale spostamento di rotte transoceaniche più a sud avrebbe sì comportato la possibilità che i voli da/per gli USA potessero andare ma in caso di ulteriore allargamento dell'area interessata, avrebbe potuto comportatare il blocco a terra di molti aerei fuori dalle loro basi e per più giorni.
Per una compagnia aerea, tenere fermo un aereo per una settimana a migliaia di km di distanza comporta molti più costi che inserirlo in una normale rotazione domestica o a breve raggio.

Certo che vista l'imprevedibilità del fenomeno è un mossa comunque azzardata. Da quanto ho capito ci sono parecchi aerei stranieri fermi negli aeroporti che hanno continuato ad operare dopo il blocco del Regno Unito. Spero che siano assicurati!

Aeroflot: http://www.ilvolo.it/index.php/20100417...oflot.html

Situazione cancellazioni: http://www.ilvolo.it/index.php/20100417.../Caos.html

Test flight

Saturday KLM has got authorisation of the Inspectie voor Verkeer en Waterstaat to make a test flight in Dutch airspace. If the quality of the atmosphere is satisfactory to fly safe, KLM hopes to get passengers to their destination as soon as possible. This was announced this afternoon by president and CEO of KLM, Peter Hartman at a press conference. The test flight will be carried out at the beginning of the evening. Results are expected later in the evening. Peter Hartman will be on board as an observer.


KLM test flight passes off without problem

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines carried out a test flight this evening between about 19.45 and 21:00 hours CEST in Netherlands airspace using a Boeing 737-800. The flight was carried out to establish whether air quality in the atmosphere meets the requirements for safe flight. No problems were encountered during the flight.

The aircraft was transferred to a hangar on landing where it underwent a thorough inspection. The results have been reported to the Transport and Water Management Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will take the decision on whether flight operations are possible.

KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman, said: "At first glance there is no reason to suspect that anything is amiss. We observed no irregularities either during the flight or during the initial inspection on the ground. If the results of the technical inspection confirm this impression, we are ready to start by returning seven of our aircraft to Amsterdam from Düsseldorf. We hope to receive permission as soon as possible after that to start up our operation and to transport our passengers to their destinations." KLM Executive Vice-President Operations, Ype de Haan, was also on board the flight with Peter Hartman as an observer.

The aircraft flew to 41,000 feet (altitude of approximately 13 kilometres), which is the maximum altitude for this type of aircraft. KLM expects to receive the final results of the technical inspection tomorrow morning.

i turprop che dovessero volare a quote relativamente basse, 3-4000m, avrebbero problemi?