Travelers are encouraged to take additional precautions as a wave of cancellations and route cuts of flights across Europe driven by rising aviation taxes. The change has resulted in some airlines being scaled significantly in their operations, dropping certain routes and completely closing the base.
As a result, Tiger.co.uk travel insurance specialist Ian Wilson has issued an emergency warning to anyone planning this summer vacation.
“It's also important that travelers do not risk delaying their travel insurance purchases or losing protection from unexpected issues before they depart.”
He emphasized the importance of securing travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday to ensure full financial protection.
Wilson adds: “Most standard travel insurance includes cancellation coverage, but if coverage is not sufficient, you can purchase it separately.”
Wilson also notes that travel insurance can provide coverage for other costs associated with cancelling flights, such as car employment, kennel fees, pre-booked activities, and accommodation. He advises you to take leave to carefully review policy details as needed and add additional coverage if necessary, as these items are not always included automatically.
These taxes are set to affect several tourist hotspots and travel with them, including Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Belgium and France. These are all popular destinations for Britain during Easter and summer holidays.
The cost is initially borne by the airline, but is often passed on to passengers through rising ticket prices. Therefore, many budget airlines are adjusting their routes to maintain low fares.
These taxes are usually designed to discourage unnecessary air travel and contribute to the environmental costs of flight. Therefore, they will vary depending on factors such as aircraft type, flight duration, and other considerations.
Some of the growth announced and implemented is significant. For example, in Denmark, current aviation taxes range from 30 dkk (£3.35) to 300 dkk (£33.35) per passenger. These are expected to rise to 410 dkk (£45.58) to 50 dkk (£5.56) by 2030.
