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Here is what my airline officially tells our pilots in our Flight Operations Manual:

Volcanic Ash.

Report Of Volcanic Activity. Remain clear of reported volcanic activity. Encounters with volcanic ash can be extremely hazardous.

Caution: Remain upwind of volcano if possible to avoid flight through volcanic ash. Volcanic ash may be undetectable at night or in IMC.

Ash Detection In Flight. Detecting volcanic ash may be difficult; however the following indications may appear in the vicinity of volcanic ash:
— poor radio reception due to static electricity,
— smoke or dust appearing in the flightdeck, occasionally in concentrations sufficient to hinder breathing,
— acrid odor similar to electrical smoke,
— multiple engine malfunctions, such as surges, increasing EGT, torching, flameout, etc., and/or
— at night, St. Elmo's fire/static discharges may be observed around the windshield accompanied by a bright orange glow in the engine inlets.

The ash cloud may extend for several hundred miles. Use all available sources of information to remain clear, or to exit areas of volcanic ash; consider reversing course if required. Refer to applicable Pilot Handbook and QRH for specific procedures.

You can see that the notion of shutting down airspace that extends to over 1,000 miles from the eruption is not even close to being a consideration. As I have previously said, airline operations consider "Ash Clouds" to be entirely different from the nonsense the Europeans were refering to.

Because I am intimately aquainted with Operational Risk Assemsements, I can tell you that the European's response was entirely driven by non-operational individuals. But hey, if you think you are such an "expert," argue with Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, who said:

“We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it, with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership...Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely re-open Europe’s skies. This means decisions based on risk-management, facts and utilising operational procedures that maintain safety.”