Swedish citizens who had to pay for emergency evacuation flights from Dubai may be able to recover some of their expenses through travel insurance, according to reports. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) has faced criticism for requiring citizens to make immediate payments via mobile payment service Swish to secure seats on charter flights back to Sweden.
According to Aftonbladet, the evacuation flights cost 12,000 Swedish kronor per adult and 9,000 kronor per child. However, many travelers may be able to claim reimbursement through their insurance policies under what is known as 'catastrophe protection' coverage.
Most insurance companies would absolutely say yes to covering this
Gabriella Hallberg, a lawyer at Konsumenternas försäkringsbyrå (the Consumers' Insurance Bureau), stated that many insurance companies have been more generous in covering additional costs arising from this situation. 'Most insurance companies would absolutely say yes to covering this,' Hallberg said, while noting that the maximum compensation ceiling is typically 10,000 kronor.
The catastrophe protection clause in home insurance policies can be activated when travelers are in a location subject to a travel advisory from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and have difficulty returning home. Affected individuals are advised to contact their insurance companies, inform them of the situation, and provide documentation of their expenses.