One of the most exciting adventures of our nearly 13 years of world travel was our visit to The Big Island, Hawaii, in 2014, when we all, for the first time in our lives, witnessed lava flowing. We are still in awe of the stunning experience, one that few people will experience in their lifetime.
For details of our experience, check out the list of our posts depicting this experience in our archive from December 2014. We captured the above photo while at the observation area for Mount Kilauea on December 27, 2014. See the post here.
Now, as we read the news about the recent eruptions of Mount Kilauea in Hawaii and Mount Etna in Italy, we are reminded how erupting volcanoes can impact travel plans. For us, as precarious and dangerous as it was when we were so close to the lava flow, we all treasured the opportunity to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience…seeing lava before our eyes.
Volcanic eruptions can significantly impact travel in several ways, affecting air, land, and sea transport. Here’s how:
Air Travel
This is often the most severely affected:
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Ash clouds are the biggest threat. Volcanic ash can:
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Damage aircraft engines, potentially causing them to fail mid-flight.
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Reduce visibility and scratch windshields, making navigation dangerous.
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Corrode metal and clog ventilation systems.
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As a result, airspace is often closed over and around eruption sites, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of miles. Example: The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland grounded over 100,000 flights across Europe, stranding millions of passengers.
Land Travel
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Roads may be closed due to lava flows, heavy ash fall, or landslides triggered by the eruption.
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Visibility drops, making driving hazardous.
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Air quality can be hazardous, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions.
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Mount Etna in Italy erupted a few days ago. Emergency evacuations may disrupt public transport or local travel networks.
Sea Travel
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Underwater eruptions or tsunamis triggered by eruptions can make maritime routes hazardous.
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Floating pumice from eruptions can clog boat engines.
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Ports near the volcano may shut down due to safety concerns.
Tourism and Long-Term Travel
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Tourist destinations may be closed or evacuated, which can significantly impact local economies.
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Travel plans are often canceled or rerouted, sometimes with little notice.
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Insurance claims may increase, and travelers may face long delays or additional costs.
Summary of Impacts
| Mode of Travel | Disruption |
|---|---|
| Air Travel | Flight cancellations, airspace closures, and aircraft damage risk |
| Land Travel | Road closures, poor visibility, evacuations |
| Sea Travel | Hazardous waters, pumice damage, and port closures |
| Tourism | Site closures, economic loss, and itinerary changes |
If you’re planning to travel to or near volcanic regions, it’s wise to:
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Check alerts from volcanic observatories or geological agencies.
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Purchase travel insurance that covers natural disasters.
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Have flexible travel plans and backup routes in place.
Many travelers book plans to visit the area of erupting volcanoes to have such an experience as ours, and we certainly appreciate that enthusiasm. Of course, the utmost of caution and research must be a prerequisite to arranging such a travel adventure.
Today, I am having lunch in Blaine with two dear, long-time friends. Tom will drop me off at 12:30 at the restaurant and pick me up after his eye doctor appointment. From there, we head back to our hotel in Eden Prairie, where we’ll spend the remainder of the evening, dining on more of the items we’d purchased from Costco for exactly such evenings.
Tomorrow is a busy day with lunch plans with Greg and dinner plans at friends Chere and Gary’s home in Eden Prairie, not far from our hotel.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 3, 2015:
