Ash disruption cost East Midlands Airport £600,000

About 63,000 East Midlands' airport passengers are believed to have been affected by the disruption

East Midlands Airport has revealed the volcanic ash disruption earlier this year cost it about £600,000.

The eruption of the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajoekull, in May caused UK airspace to be shut down for six days.

Barry Thompson, the airport's finance director, said the costs had been "substantial", though much less than initial estimates of more than £1m.

About 63,000 East Midlands passengers are thought to have been affected by cancellations and delays.

Mr Thompson said: "The airport lost on average £100,000 each day during the period of disruption.

"Six months on, the financial impact that the volcanic ash cloud had on our business is now clear. Although this is a substantial amount, it is less than originally anticipated; due to a prediction that we would incur further associated costs or income loss."

In June, the airport called for damages from the government, but has now said it is "no longer actively pursuing any form of compensation".