MANY travellers are facing financial loss because of the volcanic ash that has grounded airlines all over Europe.

Those who have booked their own flights may well be offered a refund of their ticket price, but ancillary expenses such as car hire, car parking, hotel and villa hire, may not be covered by insurance because companies could use an Act of God defence to avoid paying compensation.

It did not surprise me that a volcanic eruption was being classed as an Act of God.

Two years ago my wife, Maria, had her flight cancelled from Ireland because of fog at Liverpool. Fog was judged to be an “act of God” and, therefore, while an alternative flight was arranged there was no question of Ryanair offering compensation or a hotel for the night.

Maria, reading the latest news stories about the sudden lack of insurance on the grounds that the deity had colluded in this geological happening, commented: “All right, so it’s an act of God. Does that mean atheists are still covered?”

She has a point.