Airline offers volcanic ash insurance

Airline Flybe is to offer passengers the opportunity to buy separate volcanic ash insurance, it was announced yesterday.

The £6.99 per person policy will reimburse passengers for costs for delays of more than 24 hours caused by closure of airspace.

Flybe said it stands by its commitment to reimbursement as laid out in EU regulations, but "wanted to make sure our passengers have insurance to help pay for any additional costs" from airspace shutdowns. If passengers are stranded away from home Flybe will pay for any reasonable unplanned-for costs incurred for additional accommodation and travel expenses up to £150 for each 24-hour period (maximum £1,050). Meanwhile, as many as 63 per cent of people thought the authorities were correct in keeping UK airspace closed for as long as they did, a poll from research agency TNS RI found.

Based on responses from 1,010 people aged 16 to 64, the survey showed that those agreeing with the airspace shutdown rose to 70 per cent among those directly affected by the ban.

The poll also found that eight per cent of adults were prevented from flying and a further 19 per cent were indirectly affected through family being unable to fly.

Only 10 per cent were considering postponing a planned holiday following the ash cloud crisis.