Travel disruption due to Volcanic dust cloud - advice from the Association of British Insurers

Travel disruption due to Volcanic dust cloud – advice from the Association of British Insurers

Travel disruption due to Volcanic dust cloud – advice from the Association of British Insurers

People travelling to or from a UK airport are having their travel plans disrupted due to an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland.

The ABI advises customers who may be affected that:

. Volcanic eruptions are not always covered by travel insurance for cancellation and delay. However, some policies will cover this, so you should contact your travel insurance company to check what your policy covers.
. If your flight is cancelled, most airlines will offer you either a full refund or an alternative flight.
. If your flight is cancelled and you do not travel, most travel insurers will refund your premium if you took out a single trip policy.
. If you accept an alternative flight at a later date, most travel insurers will amend your policy to cover your new travel arrangements and dates.
. Insurance only covers events that happen after the policy is taken out so customers taking out travel insurance from today onwards will not be covered for this event.
. Deciding that you no longer wish to travel will not be covered by your travel insurance policy.

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said:

“Travel insurance policies will differ in this situation; there is no standard set of conditions which applies to a situation of this kind. Therefore customers should check their travel insurance policy, and speak to their travel insurer to understand what their individual policy covers them for in this situation.”

– ENDS –

Notes for Editors

1. Enquiries to:
Nicholas Burke 020 7216 7392 (Mobile: 07725 245 841)
Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 (Mobile: 07776 147 667)
Erfan Hussain 020 7216 7411 (Mobile: 07712 841 184)
Kelly Ostler-Coyle 020 7216 7415 (Mobile: 07968 364 302)

2. The ABI is the voice of the insurance and investment industry. Its members constitute over 90 per cent of the insurance market in the UK and 20 per cent across the EU. They control assets equivalent to a quarter of the UK’s capital. They are the risk managers of the UK’s economy and society. Through the ABI their voice is heard in Government and in public debate on insurance, savings and investment matters.

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4. More news and information from the ABI is available on our web site, www.abi.org.uk.