Airlines operating in Europe have suffered...
air authorities may have to adjust air corridors and flight levels to direct planes south of the ash cloud, he told RIA Novosti.The standard altitude of 10,000-11,000 meters (32,810-36,100 feet) is optimal in terms of the flight speed to fuel consumption ratio, but it could be changed temporarily for safety reasons. However, flying at a lower altitude will increase flight costs, which could theoretically increase airfare.
The ash cloud should be monitored and studied more closely, as ash concentration varies over Europe, with some regions posing a greater risk than others.
"Aircraft designers do not consider ash clouds when designing aircraft," Rybak said. "Therefore, we have no reliable information about the dangers of flying in such conditions. Nobody knows for certain which ash concentrations are dangerous."
Collecting and analyzing this information could prevent a total ban on flights over Europe.