Comment

Ash won't cloud Beijing

By Edward Mills (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-22 07:58

Just a week ago, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted. A huge plume of ash was an unavoidable consequence. Much of Europe's airspace were closed.

This has caused significant problems, especially in the United Kingdom, where British authorities have taken the (questionable) decision to close all British airspace for the duration.

Airlines are said to be losing 130 million pounds a day and a popular tour operator is likely to take a 20 million pounds loss. Tourists are stranded, exotic food supplies are down and other companies are losing business.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in what probably was a moment of electioneering, had even sent warships to Spain and Northern France to collect stranded tourists and service personnel.

Clearly there's a substantial chaotic element to the natural disaster spreading across most European nations.

But will this ash cloud impact Beijing?

At face value, it appears to have limited influence. The ash cloud itself is ominously said to be arriving in China tomorrow, April 23, if the precise nature of the forecast is to be believed.

However, the Korea Meteorological Administration said the ash cloud's long journey from Europe will have taken the sting out of it and the immediate impact on flights in China's airspace remains limited.

China's National Satellite Meteorological Center will continue to closely monitor the situation regarding the spread of volcanic ash, but while it hasn't confirmed the ash's influence on national flights, it's fairly safe to say there will be little disruption.

The continued schedule of national flights is of course the paramount concern, considering the damage caused to European economies and losses suffered by their airline industries.

However, due to the increasing international interdependence of today's world, there are other ways the ash cloud will impact.

First, the most noticeable effects will be on tourists, both Chinese abroad and foreigners in China.

There are significantly fewer flights out of Europe at this time, while Air China has until yesterday suspended the majority of its flights to the region. This had, until recently, included flights to the Russian capital Moscow.

The hundreds of stranded Russian tourists have now been able to return home, but inevitably tourists from other European nations are still struggling to make it back.

Second, there is the commercial impact.

Thankfully, many imports from the European economic region arrive in Beijing by sea. That said, there are some goods that are significantly affected.

If you've attempted to buy salmon in the supermarket recently, you will know this to be true.

Indeed, salmon prices are said to have been increased by up to 50 per cent in some places in the capital.

This is due to Norway being the main provider of salmon to China, accounting for a significant market percentage of almost 90 per cent, the Norway Seafood Export Council said.

And salmon could disappear from Beijing's supermarket shelves entirely if exports from Norway don't resume soon.

Guo Lulu, chief representative with the Beijing office of Leroy Seafood Group, said: "Very few cargo flights moved through the capital's airport last Friday and Saturday, but there have been none since Sunday."

Most other food imports from the region aren't seriously affected.

Last, but by no means least, business is likely to have been hit.

In today's Beijing, a substantial amount of business is generated through engaging with European partners.

It is difficult to believe the grounding of flights will not have caused some problems in business between the two regions.

The volcanic eruption raises intriguing questions about the modern age of business.

Increasing global alliances, reliance of interconnectivity of economies and cutting edge technologies have been developed to facilitate this are still no solution to the unpredictable nature of the natural world.

Some limited flights are now operating from European countries that had previously been closed to all air traffic, so it is hoped some level of normality will resume soon, although the ash clouds are likely to continue to cause disruption for some weeks.

While such detrimental effects are not to be ignored, it is fair to say that for the ordinary Beijinger, the overarching impact should hopefully be slight.

That is, as long as you're not determined to eat salmon for dinner.