Flights cancelled, routes changed and travel plans in chaos: Everything you need to know about coronavirus and your holidays – and will you be refunded if you’re affected?

  • Australians risking not being covered as flights cancelled due to coronavirus 
  • Qantas was latest airline to slash flights due to COVID-19 outbreak on Tuesday
  • Insurance Council of Australia said January 23 was key coverage cut-off point 
  • Insurance bought after that date done so after virus spread was ‘known event’
  • Most providers do not cover pandemics and epidemics if bought after that date

By Charlie Coë For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:18 GMT, 10 March 2020 | Updated: 22:30 GMT, 10 March 2020

Australians are risking not being covered for travel plans cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Qantas became the latest airline to slash flights on Tuesday as the travel industry battles a sharp reduction in bookings amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The Insurance Council of Australia said the key cut-off point for those who bought travel insurance for their trip was January 23 – when the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade first issued travel advice about the coronavirus.

Qantas planes pictured at Sydney Airport on March 10. Australians are risking not being covered for travel plans cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak if they bought their insurance policies after the outbreak became a 'known event'

Qantas planes pictured at Sydney Airport on March 10. Australians are risking not being covered for travel plans cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak if they bought their insurance policies after the outbreak became a ‘known event’

At that point the spread of the disease was considered a ‘known event’ by insurers. 

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 116

New South Wales: 61

Victoria: 21

Queensland: 18

South Australia: 7

Western Australia: 6

Tasmania: 2

Northern Territory: 1 

TOTAL CASES:  116

DEAD: 3 

‘If people are travelling and bought their travel insurance before it became a known event… the majority of travel insurance policies should cover people if they contract coronavirus overseas of their trips have to be moved around countries and places,’ the council told The Guardian in February.

After the January cut-off date, cancellation costs as a result of pandemics and epidemics are only covered by less than half of insurers.

Choice’s coronavirus travel insurance review found though just over half of insurers covered medical expenses.

A ‘Cancel for any reason’ add-on is a way around the issue, with travel insurance provider Covermore explicitly saying it will cover costs associated with the coronavirus outbreak.

Australians who have booked flights with Qantas though will be offered fee waivers, which will allow passengers to change their bookings for the rest of the month. 

It follows the airline making drastic cuts to flights on Tuesday. 

Flight routes to London will be changed and eight of the airline’s 12 A380 aircraft will be grounded due to low demand.

Smaller planes will be used for flights and the frequency of travel will be reduced.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce – the richest CEO in Australia – has announced he will not take his $23.9million salary for the next three months, and salaries for the company’s executive management team will be cut by 30 per cent.

:

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk