Mondial Assistance

Tuesday, 6 July 2010—Specialist assistance and travel insurance provider, Mondial Assistance Australia, said that from today Australian travellers can once again access protection against Iceland volcanic activity and associated ash cloud disruptions.

Chief Executive Officer, Brett Robinson, said from today Mondial Assistance Australia will treat any future volcanic activity in Iceland as a new and separate event to the disruptions of April and May 2010.

“That means if you purchase our comprehensive travel insurance you will be covered for cancellation, rearrangement or additional expenses if your travel is disrupted by volcanic activity and associated ash clouds occurring on or after 6 July 2010.

“But you will need to have purchased travel insurance before any future volcanic activity.

“For example, if you purchased comprehensive travel insurance through one of our partners on 4 July 2010 and the volcano erupts tomorrow, on 7 July, you will have cover if your journey is disrupted. However if you purchase insurance on 8 July—the day after the eruption—you would not be covered as the volcanic activity could no longer be described as an unforeseen or unexpected event.

“And if you purchased your travel insurance on 20 April—in the middle of the last volcanic ash disruption—and you are traveling in August and the volcano erupts then, you will still be covered for cancellation, rearrangement or additional expenses if your travel is disrupted by the volcanic activity.

“Travel insurance is for the unforeseen and unexpected. It’s important to remember that. And for us, today, Tuesday 6 July 2010 is a line-in-the-sand day for how we view future volcanic activity in Iceland.

“I hope that this provides clarity and a high degree of comfort for the many Australians who are traveling or planning to travel during the peak period of the European summer.

“And in the unhappy event of further volcanic activity, we will issue further advice about the issue. We publish this and all updated travel insurance advice to our website www.mondial-assistance.com.au,” he said.

Mondial Assistance has an information hotline for questions and concerns—it’s 1800 012 234 free call within Australia.

Mondial Assistance travel insurance policies are sold throughout Australia by travel agents and our online partners and representatives including AussieTravelCover, Medibank Private, 1Cover, Virgin Blue, Worldcare, Webjet and many others. Our website, www.mondial-assistance.com.au has a complete list of all our partners.

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• Travel insurance protection against future Iceland volcano ash cloud media release (50 Kb)