The Association of British Insurers (ABI) estimates £275 million ($445.89 million) will be paid to UK customers by travel insurers in coronavirus-related claims, with the vast majority for cancellations.

Some 400,000 coronavirus travel insurance claims are expected, easily topping the previous record of 294,000 cancellation and disruption claims seen in 2010, when the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded flights across Europe and the North Atlantic.

Payouts for cancellation costs are expected to be at least double the 2019 total and “easily more” than 2010’s £148 million ($292.48 million), the ABI says in its first estimates.

ABI member companies have agreed to a series of travel insurance pledges to ensure extra support for customers, including having in place contingency plans to deal with valid claims as quickly as possible.

Along with compensation from sources such as airlines and credit card providers, travel insurers are helping customers get through these tough times, ABI assistant director Mark Shepherd said.

“At this unprecedented time, travel insurers are helping soften the financial blow for thousands of customers whose travel plans have been cancelled or disrupted by coronavirus,” he says.

Standard travel insurance policies do not generally cover pandemics however extensions were purchased by some travellers to close this gap.

In Australia, IAG has agreed to travel insurance refunds for any unused proportion of premiums, including full refunds where customers have not yet travelled and have not claimed. Other insurers are expected to announce similar measures.