French Airlines request from the government EUR 51 million for losses made during Iceland volcano eruption, MINA reports from Paris.

Federation of trade aviation sent letter to Minister of Transport Jean-Louis Borloo requesting "a gesture of the government" due to their mobilisation and contribution to test flights as well as flights for return of the French people from abroad.

French Airlines lost at least EUR 200 million in revenues as a result of the volcanic ash-linked disruption.

It was the biggest aerial shutdown in Europe since World War II, with more than 100,000 flights cancelled and eight million passengers affected. The airline industry said it lost some EUR 2.5 billion.