Ashes to Ashes.

Another volcano, another ash cloud, another reason to question if we learn from past history when it comes to communication. Chaos at the airport. Some flights going, some flights not and no one seems to know. All that technology, probably enough to send a man to Mars and back and we still blame Mother Nature when it comes to our lack of communication.

So having spent hours on the phone waiting for any clear direction as to what the airline will do, I wonder what happened to all that mobile technology that was going to help with communication? Sure everyone gets the plane cancelled SMS but then the airline decides to go to the phones and that ends any communication stream as it now becomes an individual phone marathon to find out relevant information on your travelling future. The biggest problem with getting the cancelled flight information via SMS is that it's only bad news and nothing else comes down that particular pipeline.

We've had so many incidents disrupting air travel over the last couple of years that all ended up causing the same chaos with the same consumer feedback, I wonder how airlines and their airport cohorts haven't learnt from those lessons. Communication is the essence of man and what he has achieved, yes very deep, so why do we stop when it matters the most? Volcanoes and earthquakes have now plagued the aviation industry for a while and at the end of every episode someone stands in front of the TV camera talking about how they will resolve issues for future incidents and the communication constrict won't happen again.

Common sense doesn't seem to enter into the thinking of the airlines especially, when all they need to do, is continue a stream of information as they get it, and then send it to their customers. After all those customers want to on source that information for the benefit of their families and colleagues.

The airlines have an opportunity to use communication technology and change the perception of being the last ones to tell anything to anyone. Information gets out in the end and it's not like state secrets are being traded. So the first airline that grabs mobile technology to actually communicate with its clients will be seen as the leader and will no doubt take a considerable market lead.

So by the third day of communication not, I'm left left wondering if I should stay with my airline or jump to a different queue and try and find an airline more communicative? I'm not sure how I do that as the lines of communication seem stuck at the phone. Seems all the iPads in the world and all the smart phones in the world won't get me any closer to an airline or closer to home.

When it comes to a major disruption the airlines take back all control and cede nothing to the net. The only things on the net about the airlines are disgruntled tweeters and bloggers who have not been treated with respect. Each incident drives customers further away from the legacy airlines and towards the Online Low Cost Carriers who only live in the moment on the web.

I wait with bated breath for the phone to ring.