In an initial survey of its 2,500 members, the majority of
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry members said their
companies had been affected by the shutdown of European airspace.
The survey is ongoing.
Of those that responded, many have staff who are stranded
abroad. This has resulted in 52.9% incurring increased costs
to find alternative travel. The daily price tag, which includes
overtime and hotel costs for staff working abroad who are unable to
return to work, loss of business for companies which are unable to
attend trade shows and staff who can't get to meetings, ranges from
£150 to £40,000.
Mike Lambden, head of corporate affairs at bus and coach
operator, National Express said "Clearly travel to the airport has
been disrupted with there being no flights but we have had heavy
demand for our European services and are working to match that
demand. We have added hundreds of extra coaches to and from Europe
over the past few days."
On another positive note, one company said they have been able
to make good use of a new video conferencing facility, which has
saved on the cost of five people travelling to Japan.
One company said they have a massive job in Miami next week and
are now struggling to plan how to get crew and kit there.
52.9% of companies are unsure whether their business insurance
covers losses sustained.
When asked if there are any actions business thinks governments
should be taking to combat the crisis and limit its economic
impact, responses suggest that government priority should be
to tackling this problem rather than the election.
Two members suggest government should open up lower air space to
smaller aircraft.
The typical British 'stiff upper lip' is in evidence as one
Chamber member rather resignedly suggests that after what
businesses have been through in the last two years this mini-crisis
shouldn't cause too many problems!