'You’d assume two years [to come to court]... and that’s just the first result'

Gatenby predicted a verdict may not arrive for “some years” due to the complexity of the case.

“You’d assume two years [to come to court], then maybe six months, and that’s just the first result – you’d bet there will be at least one appeal,” he said. A potential payout could hit six figures, anticipated Gatenby.

Kylie Hutchison, a travel litigation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said potential damages won would “help compensate [claimants] for their suffering, their financial losses and help survivors meet the costs of specialist treatments and therapies to aid their recoveries”.

In a statement, Tui said it remained “truly saddened” by the loss of its customers and its “thoughts remained with all of those who were affected by the horrific incident”.

It added: “As this is now subject to legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage except to say we will fully cooperate with the judicial process.”