The Iceland volcano has also disrupted tourism, trade in goods, and other economic activities.
The effects of the ash cloud from Iceland are most severe in Europe, but the economic ripples are global.
The volcanic debris, by disrupting air travel in the surrounding region, has also disrupted a range activities in the United States and other globally connected economies far from the ash cloud itself.
Among the sectors affected: the flow of visitors to tourist hot spots such as New York City, high-profile sporting events including a car race in Japan, and trade in goods including US- and Canadian-caught seafood.