Icelandic air traffic control has often warned of the potential impact to international aviation of a volcanic eruption in Iceland; but despite this, European airlines and controllers continue to say that nothing could have predicted that an Icelandic volcano would have such a massive impact on aviation.

Iceland volcano

Thordarson told Aftenposten that the exercises have consistently proven the potential danger of volcanic ash to aeroplanes and said he has been sending out regular weather updates to European colleagues concerning volcanic activity in Iceland for the last two years.

The journal of Norwegian pilots, Flygelederen, published a six page article on the dangers of an Icelandic eruption in December last year.