Travel broker Columbus Direct has launched a new travel policy to protect customers against their travel being disrupted by volcanic ash.

The move follows the imposition of ash cloud exclusions on standard travel policies by Columbus’s insurer.

“After last year’s volcanic eruption caused such chaos to travel plans, Columbus was one of the few providers to honour trip delay payments to its policyholders,” said David Evans, managing director of Collinson Insurance Group, Columbus’s parent. “Following these events, and in keeping with other market participants, our underwriter was subsequently forced to exclude cover from our standard policy so we took the move to offer additional protection to our clients.”

Buyers have a choice of ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ coverage. The silver product costs £8 per trip or £12 annually and only covers ash cloud disruption. It offers coverage of up to £150 – or £15 per 12 hours – per person for travel delay, £4,000 for abandonment and £500 for missed departure.

The gold product costs £12.50 a trip or £20 annually and covers both ash cloud disruption and emergency travel upgrade. It offers coverage of up to £200 – or £20 per 12 hours – per person for travel delay, £7,500 for abandonment and £1,500 for missed departure.