Insurance losses from the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 range from $US250 million to $US450 million ($271 million to $487.81 million), depending on potential court settlements, according to Standard & Poor’s.

“The losses will be well spread throughout the global aviation insurance and reinsurance markets, resulting in a limited credit impact on individual (re)insurers,” analyst Dennis Sugrue said.

He says the losses should not trouble rated life insurers in Asia.

“The impact on smaller rated Asian insurers and reinsurers that have a share of the potential losses should be manageable, because their reinsurance or retrocession protection is likely to keep their net loss relatively low.”