Back in 2010 many flights were cancelled across Europe due to the presence of volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull.
RSA was amongst the first insurers to confirm coverage for our Business Travel customers and it continues to be RSA's intention to cover natural disasters including Volcanic Ash under our standard Business Travel policy
We sincerely hope that the latest concerns surrounding Iceland's Bárðarbunga volcano do not escalate causing any disruption to our policyholders. Indeed on 25th August Iceland lowered its aviation alert level from red to orange, signalling a volcanic eruption remained possible in coming days but was not imminent.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also said that it would not close UK airspace in the event of an eruption. New guidelines and advances in the detection of ash and better understanding of its risks mean volcanic clouds similar to those seen at the start of the decade would no longer have a significant impact on air travel in Europe.
Although a bigger eruption could disrupt schedules in affected areas, as a global insurer we want to reassure RSA's Business Travel customers that they will be covered for Volcanic Ash.
Please refer to your policy wording for full terms exceptions and conditions, and always check the current position of the CAA and your airline before travelling, as claims will not be paid where bookings are made with knowledge of their likely cancellation.
To find out more about RSA's Business Travel policy and contacts: RSA Business Travel - it's our duty to care.