| GEO Entertainment | | European air chaos hits entertainment events | Updated at: 1025 PST, Tuesday, April 20, 2010
 LONDON: Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures announced Monday it was moving the world premiere of action movie "Iron Man 2" to Los Angeles from London due to uncertainty caused by the travel chaos in Europe.
Several other publicity events involving major stars have been postponed after European airspace was shut down by a volcanic ash cloud.
Officials said they expected less than a third of flights to operate in Europe Monday, the fifth day of disruption. Interviews to promote Iron Man 2, the sequel to the hit 2008 film starring Robert Downey Jr. that earned $585 million in global ticket sales, were also moved to Los Angeles, according to Paramount, owned by Viacom Inc, and Marvel Entertainment.
Other entertainment events affected include interviews planned for U.S. R&B singer Usher, who had been expected in London later this week to promote new album "Raymond v Raymond."
U.S. singer and actress Miley Cyrus was unable to commit to the European premiere of "The Last Song" in London Tuesday, while Irish dancer Michael Flatley also canceled a press conference in the city on the same day.
London theatres are watching events closely, as around one ticket in every five sold in the West End goes to someone visiting from overseas, and the proportion rises significantly during the summer months.
"If it (the travel chaos) went on for a significant length of time, it would be a major worry, particularly as we move into the summer," said a spokesman for the Society of London Theater. |  |
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