Travel industry bosses are demanding the government compensates operators who have spent thousands repatriating customers during the ash crisis.
Abta chairman John McEwan said EU airlines rather than tour operators should have covered the costs of dealing with the 200,000 Brits who were stranded abroad after a cloud of volcanic ash shut down UK airspace.
He said: “Abta is speaking to the government about how we can go about getting compensation for operators.”
The association has had meetings this week with the treasury and the Foreign Office, while Abta board member John de Vial met transport secretary Lord Adonis on Wednesday.
Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman claimed many travel companies, particularly airlines, were not financially equipped to deal with a six-day flying ban.
“This is not about the industry trying to wriggle out of footing any bills; this is about a financial and humanitarian issue being faced by customers around the world,” he said.
Mike Greenacre, managing director of The Co-operative Travel, called for clarity from the government. He said: “I would implore the government to give serious thought to what financial support it might give to those affected.”
Cosmos managing director Stuart Jackson called for a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the crisis.