Tui offers customers free coronavirus insurance for rest of the year
Tui has announced that all its UK customers will receive free coronavirus insurance until the end of the year.
The UK’s largest tour operator says its new Covid-19 Cover will protect travellers from the costs of testing for suspected cases, medical expenses for those who contract the virus, and food and accommodation for anyone required to go into quarantine while abroad.
It also covers the return flight for any customer forced to extend their stay after having to self-isolate, or in the extreme circumstance of those requiring repatriation for medical reasons.
The insurance is automatically added to all new and existing bookings between now and December 31 2020, although Tui has advised that Covid-19 Cover should be used alongside normal travel insurance to guarantee holidaymakers’ peace of mind.
Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve done a lot of work to ensure we can take our customers on relaxing, enjoyable and – most importantly – safe holidays again and it’s really exciting to be able to offer our customers additional peace of mind when booking with us, with our new Covid-19 Cover.
“We know some people may not feel confident travelling right now, but we’re inviting them to start looking forward to holidays again, and we can’t wait to take them away whenever they choose to join us.”
A number of travel companies have announced similar insurance packages in an effort to inspire the public’s confidence to travel, many of whom fear their bookings could all too easily be cancelled should their holiday destination experience a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Jet2holidays and Hays Travel, as well as UK travel trade association Abta, have all launched similar coronavirus policies, although fears are still being fuelled as operators and airlines continue to stall on refunds for holidays cancelled due to the spate of travel bans imposed during the past few months as multiple countries sought to control their infection rates.
With coronavirus-related travel restrictions now being lifted across Europe, Tui is also set to expand its summer operations from next week, flying to an additional seven destinations across Spain and Greece from July 25.
Britons will again be able to buy travel packages to Menorca, Malaga, Alicante, Reus, Zakynthos, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.
The company has also said that it will also bring back holidays to Turkey on August 1, and on the same day will resume flights from nine regional UK airports, including Glasgow, East Midlands, Newcastle and Exeter.
