Heathrow Airport in London has restored energy after a fire in a nearby substation and is expected to completely resume operations on Saturday, the United Kingdom time. Despite the restoration, it is anticipated that airport delays will continue during the next few days, which can interrupt travelers’ plans.

The Hong Kong insurers Federation has clarified that travelers affected by the closure of the airport can receive coverage if their travel insurance policy includes the closure of the airport as a specific risk. The Federation classifies the incident as unforeseen, derived from the fire of the substation.

For travelers who face travel cancellations, if the closure of the airport occurs within a specific number of days before the scheduled exit, they are advised to first seek reimbursements of their transport, accommodation and tourist suppliers. You can claim any unrecoverable balance of your travel insurance, depending on the terms of your selected plan.

In cases of delays in the trip, if the delay caused by this incident reaches a specific threshold, as at least 6 hours, the insured can receive a cash assignment as compensation.

In addition, for the changes or the early termination of the trip, if the closure requires rediring or an early return to Hong Kong during the trip, compensation for additional public transport and/or accommodation expenses can be provided. These expenses must be incurred to continue to the original destination or to return early to Hong Kong. The amount of compensation will depend on the coverage provided by the insurance plan.

As the coverage and terms of different policies vary, the Hong Kong insurers federation advises the insured to carefully read their policy and consult with their insurance or intermediaries company if they have any questions about the coverage.