Volcano 'could cost UK companies £3m per day'
Commercial insurance
20th April 2010
The eruption of the volcano in Iceland and the resulting grounding of flights across Europe could cost businesses in the UK more than £3 million a day, it has been claimed.
According to FirstCare, employees are stranded overseas by the restrictions, creating problems with absence.
The absence management consultancy estimates 20,300 workers failed to make it into the office because of transport delays, primarily caused by the eruption of Eyjafjalljokull in the south of Iceland.
Chief executive Aaron Ross warned small companies are particularly affected by the problem, with other employees forced to stay off work to care for family members while people are stranded overseas.
"The high level of non-medical related absence is reminiscent of the snow chaos caused at the beginning of the year," he observed.
Many airports in Europe remain closed and companies are advised to ensure they have business continuity plans - including insurance for business - in place in the event of incidents disrupting their operations.
Test flights have been carried out by some airlines in a bid to restart services as the volcano continues to spew out ash and other particles.
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