Recent air traffic chaos shows the need for correct travel insurance
On Monday, 28th August, hundreds of thousands of passenger flights were delayed or cancelled after air traffic control problems. Many people faced additional bills and the prospect of lost holidays, only to find out the costs incurred were not covered by their airline or travel insurance, highlighting the importance of having the right level of insurance cover in place.
Bank Holiday Monday problems
The problems on Bank Holiday Monday were caused by a technical failure in the automatic flight planning system operated by NATS, the company that provides national air traffic control services in the UK. With the system down for several hours and the backup system also suspended, the number of planes in the sky was severely restricted, and hundreds more flights were cancelled on Tuesday as the fallout continued to disrupt travel.
It's estimated that around a quarter of a million passengers were caught up in the chaos, with around 1,600 flights cancelled across the UK, 300 cancelled on Tuesday morning and the situation taking many more days to be resolved and get everyone back to where they should be.
Compensation not due
Although airlines have a legal duty to accommodate, feed and fly passengers whose flights are cancelled or severely delayed, in this case, compensation is not due because the fault was beyond their control. At the moment, NATS does not have to pay compensation, which means additional costs incurred will have to be borne by the passengers themselves or their travel insurance, as long as they have a decent policy in place.
Protection through travel insurance
With issues such as technical problems, staff strikes and the ongoing threat of cyberattack always present, it’s just as well to be prepared for any eventuality when travelling. This means having the correct level of travel insurance in place, offering protection against delays, cancellations, lost luggage and documents, and personal liability.
Talk to TMD
With 50 years’ of experience and an ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional customer care, we have a reputation for providing first-class service and insurance cover tailored to your requirements.
Whatever kind of trip you are planning, whether in the UK, across Europe or worldwide, we will discuss your requirements and source a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will protect you against insurance risks. This includes, but is not limited to, financial protection against accident, injury, illness, hospitalisation, theft, cancellation and delay.
Our advice is to plan well in advance and ensure you are fully covered against insurable risks, so that, in the event you experience events beyond your control, such as those on Bank Holiday Monday, you will not be left seriously out of pocket and having to pick up the bill yourself. Unfortunately, many of the holidaymakers caught up in the Bank Holiday Monday situation found out, to their cost, they were not correctly insured.
To find out more or arrange cover, please call us on 01992 703 000 or email us at insurance@mcdonaghs.co.uk. Our team is always on hand to advise on the most suitable insurance solution for your needs to keep you protected.