Airlines toted up losses topping $2 billion and struggled to get hundreds of thousands of travelers back home Wednesday after a week of crippled air travel, as questions and recriminations erupted over Europe’s chaotic response to the volcanic ash cloud.

The ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano is continuing to cripple air travel across Europe, and weather experts say the situation may not change until at least the end of the week.

Delta Air Lines unveiled plans to introduce the first-ever nonstop flights between its Detroit Metropolitan Airport hub and Sao Paulo, Brazil, bolstering the city’s position as a leading international gateway.

Delta Airlines has rescheduled the commencement of its nonstop service from New York to Grenada. The airline, which had originally announced direct service to Grenada from July but then agreed to reschedule to June 5 after it pulled out of Air Jamaica last month, will now start on July 3.

JetBlue Airways plans to serve Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) beginning in November. JetBlue intends to initially offer travelers at least eight daily departures from DCA to select East Coast destinations, complementing its existing low fare service from Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Star Alliance is the world’s largest commercial airline alliance with a current membership of 26 airlines, and on Thursday, May 13, 2010, TAM Airlines will become a full member.