Here are the latest position statements concerning the volcanoes in Iceland and future impact on travel insurance:
CSA Travel Protection
Travel & Coverage Alerts from CSA
Volcanic Ash Cloud Update
05/21/2010
A cloud of volcanic ash again interfered with regular flight patterns beginning Sunday May 16, 2010, in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. A flight ban was imposed in the area on Sunday, and restrictions, delays and cancellations are still lingering.
For those plans that do offer coverage for adverse or inclement weather, there is no coverage for this specific event under any plans purchased on or after May 16, 2010.
05/14/2010
This is an update regarding the flight disruptions due to the volcanic activity. We now consider the volcanic event which happened on May 8, 2010 to have ended on May 14, 2010, when Eurocontrol—the European air traffic authority—expected fully normal operations to resume. At this time, no-fly zones are limited to an area close to the Icelandic crater and another area north of Scotland. Eurocontrol advised that air traffic is likely to be at normal levels, with all of Europe’s airports open to services, and the situation is unlikely to change over the next 24 hours.
As with the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud eruption in April, CSA considers this event to be adverse or inclement weather. Certain CSA Travel Protection plans offer benefits for some effects of adverse or inclement weather. Customers are strongly encouraged to read their Certificate of Insurance or Insurance Policy for details regarding their available coverage.
General Information
For those plans that do offer coverage for effects of adverse or inclement weather, please note there is no coverage for the specific volcanic ash cloud events under any plans purchased on or between the start and end dates noted below.
•Event 4 – Start May 16, End May 19
•Event 3 – Start May 8, End May 14
•Event 2 – Start May 3, 7am, End May 3, 1pm
•Event 1 – Start April 15, End April 22
Please note: If you buy a policy today to cover a weather event that is currently happening, you will not have coverage as it would be a foreseeable event.
Once an ash cloud dissipates, and travel schedules resume to normal, new policies can afford coverage if a new ash cloud event interferes with airspace, and causes delays or cancellations (provided all requirements of the policy are met).
Latest news – 5/1/2010
This is an update regarding the flight disruptions due to the volcanic activity. We now consider the volcanic event which happened on April 14, 2010 to have ended on April 22, 2010, when Eurocontrol announced that air traffic had returned to normal levels. We are pleased to confirm that any future volcanic events occurring after April 22, 2010 will be considered new events.
HTH
We now consider the volcanic event which happened on April 14, 2010 to have ended on April 22, 2010, when Eurocontrol announced that air traffic had returned to normal levels. We are pleased to confirm that any future volcanic events occurring after April 22, 2010 will be considered new events.
Travel Guard
Question Two: “I am scheduled to travel this summer and have not yet purchased a policy. If I purchase a policy today and a future eruption of the Iceland volcano occurs would I be covered?”
Answer: If the current Iceland Volcano situation subsides and commercial airlines resume normal schedules prior to your trip, any new eruption would be considered a new event under our US policies. Coverage would be administered according to the product purchased (based on limits and exclusions). We encourage you to contact our 24/7 Service Center or your Travel Guard sales representatives with additional questions as coverage and benefits vary by product.