COMPENSATION NONSENSE

Volcanoes erupt from time to time as part of our worlds natural cycle of growth and renewal in one foul swoop. It is a natural if cataclysmic event, so should the Airline companies around the world receive financial compensation for their losses?

While I sympathise enormously with disadvantaged travellers; and to a degree even with the airlines for the effect that the unpronounceable Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull volcano had on their bottom lines and profit expectations, asking to be compensated for their losses from various Governments is simply nonsense and not acceptable in my opinion.

Firstly, whichever Government they seek to receive compensation from for their losses is victimising their travelling passengers to pay again. Governments are made up of tax payers and it is those tax payers who are the airlines customers; so asking for compensation for their inconvenience is a double blow to have them pay.

Why would Airlines want to hurt their customers a second time? Or is it a ruse by insurance companies to limit liability for the fiasco? Perhaps I'm just becoming very cynical.

The airlines may argue that their respective Governments stopped them from flying “unnecessarily” due to the assumption that the volcanic ash could have the ability to block up their engines and cause aircraft crashes. This was very nearly the case when Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted back in the early 80's but due to some very competent pilots and good engineering, was averted at the last minute when the planes 4 engines failed but restarted just in time for the plane to land at Djakarta. What if the same thing happened again over Europe and the engines couldn't be restarted? Hundred's and hundred's of people would have been killed.

Were the European Governments wrong to err on the side of caution? I don't think so. Anyone who was travelling and caught up in this natural event are probably now very grateful that their lives were not put at risk for the sake of the airlines profitability. If you were one of the travelling public you would probably be appreciative too that there was a mechanism activated to put your life above someone else's financial gain. And for those who decided to travel without taking out any travel insurance will probably not do so the next time they travel.

Travel insurance is necessary when you travel for the simple reason that you are not in control of things around you. Events and unforeseen mishaps occur that will hold you up or cost you extra money or time. This is what insurance is designed to cover and compensate you for if and when they happen. Nine times out of ten you may not need to call on it but when you do need it, it makes the inconvenience more bearable, less worrying and much more comfortable.

I believe it is complete nonsense for the Airline companies to ask the Governments around the world to compensate them for their losses due to a natural event.

This is another reason why the aviation industry all carry big insurance policies. It is to handle unforeseen events and so the insurance companies should be living up to their contractual obligations instead of trying to 'offload' the costs onto tax payers around the world.

Anything less is absolute nonsense in my not-so-humble opinion.

If you have a comment, please leave it on our blog