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Virgin Atlantic adds free Covid-19 insurance cover to bookings
Virgin Atlantic has added free Covid-19 insurance cover on all new and existing bookings in a move that it hopes will instil confidence among passengers.
The policy is fulfilled by Allianz Assistance and covers emergency medical and associated expenses while abroad totalling £500,000 per customer, with no excess payment required.
The policy was announced yesterday ahead of Virgin Atlantic’s fight for survival in London’s High Court today, where it is asking creditors to vote on a £1.2bn rescue package.
The insurance covers expenses incurred up to £3,000 if a customer is denied boarding, at either departure or in destination, or has to quarantine due to positive or suspected Covid-19 during a trip.
It is designed to complement existing travel insurance which may not have Covid cover and is also available to Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers who are flying with Virgin Atlantic.
It also applies to passengers travelling on a flight operated by a partner airline or a Joint Venture carrier, Delta Air Lines or Air France-KLM, so long as the customer is travelling on a Virgin Atlantic ticket.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen said: "We believe this complimentary cover will provide some added reassurance for our customers as they start to plan trips further afield."
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic Chief Marketing Officer Claire Cronin is to leave after six years, Marketing Week reports.
She’ll be replaced by Vice President of Digital and Distribution Siobhan Fitzpatrick, in an expanded role that will include digital, loyalty and customer journey.
Virgin Atlantic has not said what her job title will be.
By Lisa James, Deputy Editor (UK)
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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