The disruption due to the volcanic ash cloud over Europe has cost the travel group TUI £20m so far.

Europe’s largest tour operator said about 100,000 of its customers remain stranded overseas due to the widespread closure of airspace across northern Europe since last Thursday. It was providing help for those stranded in resorts.

The company is the first travel operator to name the cost caused by the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull.

It said in a statement: “This is a period of relatively low holiday activity, but the disruption to our programmes will still have a financial impact. Currently, the estimated cumulative cost to the group, up to and including April 18, is circa £20m.

“Estimated daily costs thereafter will run at approximately £5m- £6m.”

“The welfare of our customers is paramount and the group is providing assistance to all those in resort whose return home has been delayed,” it added.

About 90 percent of UK-based customers who were due to go on holiday and whose flights have been cancelled were choosing to re-book their holidays for a later date, the company said.

It also said it was working with other tour operators and airlines to press regulators and Governments to allow flights to resume as soon as possible.

TUI shares fell 3 percent in early trading. Other travel groups and airlines were hit with British Airways Thomas Cook both down around 3 percent.

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