The attacks at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport (Europe’s third-busiest airport) have caused some travel disruption to and within Turkey.
If you’re in Istanbul and you want to know how your travel insurance can help you, we’ve answered some FAQs below. For more information, please call our customer service team on 0800 0680 060.
For up-to-date information about the situation in Turkey, please check the FCO website.
Am I covered if I am injured in a terrorist incident at Ataturk Airport?
Any customer that is injured or killed in a terrorist incident will be covered under the travel insurance policy for medical expenses and personal accident cover. As such, our 24-hour emergency team will be available for immediate care for you and for arranging all necessary treatment and return to your country of residence, as well as close liaison with relatives and travelling companions.
Am I covered if I wish to cancel my forthcoming holiday to Turkey?
Unless the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against travel, your travel insurance will not normally offer any compensation. At the moment the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA) have not advised against travel to Turkey (however this excludes the existing advice travelling within 10km of the border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir – this is unrelated to the recent event). The FCO advise that flights to and from Ataturk International Airport are resuming gradually, and to speak to your carrier for updated travel information before travelling to the airport.
Am I covered if I am on holiday and wish to return home immediately?
This is a situation where you have contracted with an airline or travel provider for a service that they have been unable to fulfil. As such, it is their legal obligation to assist and support you in getting home.
In the first instance you should contact your airline or travel provider to see if they can arrange for you to return to your country of residence. The FCO have advised that flight schedules are slowly beginning to resume.
My flight was diverted and we have been delayed on our return Journey home, am I covered?
Your travel insurance policy will only cover you (in the event of a terrorist attack) under certain sections of the policy (for example medical treatment and hospital benefit if you have been directly affected by the attack), if your journey home is delayed there will be no cover for a delayed journey back to your country of residence.
I have rescheduled my travel arrangements; can I transfer my insurance to my new travel arrangements?
If there is a change that alters the premium due to a change in destination or duration, the cost of the policy will be adjusted and either refund any monies due or make a charge for the additional premium. Your travel provider may charge you an administration fee to make any changes to your travel arrangements, these additional charges will not be covered on the policy.
I am stranded abroad because of the aftermath of the Ataturk attack, is my cover still in force?
In the first instance you should contact your airline or travel provider to see if they can arrange for you to return to your country of residence.
However, where customers are stranded abroad, due to helping the authorities, lost documentation or other consequent circumstances as a result of the terrorist attacks at Ataturk Airport, your travel insurance policy will be extended until you can return home, provided you do so at the earliest possible opportunity. The cost of additional accommodation whilst abroad as a result of this incident is not covered although, where directly affected by the events, we will review each case on its merits.