2 chapters across the catalog
Following the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis, the hosts analyze a perceived media push to transition travelers from planes to trains. They critique an NPR report sponsored by Siemens—a major train manufacturer—which highlights the reliability of rail travel during flight cancellations. Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic is cited as criticizing the flight bans as unnecessary and financially devastating to the aviation industry.
Ashmageddon, Volcanic Ash Flight Disruptions and Train Strikes
The 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, referred to as Ashmageddon, resulted in massive disruptions to European aviation. Speculation arises regarding the timing of the event coinciding with a railroad engineer strike in France, suggesting a potential push to favor rail travel over aviation. The response to the crisis is framed as a manifestation of the Rahm Emanuel doctrine of never letting a crisis go to waste to instill fear regarding the reliability of air travel.
