The Amsterdam Disaster: Insurance implications

In insurance terms, in spite of the terrible human tragedy, the cost of the disaster for insurance companies will not be as great as the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, writes John Moore.

While the upper cost of Hurricane Andrew was estimated as dollars 15-dollars 20bn ( pounds 8.8- pounds 11.7bn), the total cost of the Amsterdam disaster could be dollars 200m-dollars 300m with a further pounds 50m- pounds 60m for the property damage. As part of the damage claims there could be claims on the hull of the aircraft of around dollars 65m.

In all disasters it takes time for experts to form a view as to the likely extent of the 'insured' value of the damage and final figures have not been established.