• Airspace and airports have been closed in some locations in the Middle East including Dubai. Airspace was closed in the region around 4pm Dubai time, 28 February 2026.
• There is significant disruption to the regional and global air traffic network with cancellations and diversions. There is no indication of how long the disruption will last.
• Impacted countries include Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, Türkiye Iran and Israel.
• We advise all customers travelling in and around the area to stay up to date with the latest advice on SafeTravel from the New Zealand Government. 

For policies purchased before 1am, 1 March 2026.

For those currently on their journey, whose travel has been affected by the Middle East airspace closures, please note there is no cover for this event for any travel interruption costs or losses incurred under Section D.3.1 Travel Interruption, as this event is excluded from cover under the policy by virtue of general exclusion E.5 as per policy wording. 

We are unable to cover any claims, costs or losses or liabilities directly or indirectly arising from, related to or associated with the following:

E.5 War and violence

Any:

• riot or civil commotion;
• acts of foreseeable violence;
• acts involving military operations; and/or
• war, invasion, or civil war — whether it’s declared or not.

These general exclusions apply to the whole policy. These exclusions apply throughout your period of insurance — including before your journey, and while you’re on your journey.

If you are yet to start your travel, please note the war and violence policy exclusion applies. Please see below or check your policy document for more details.

For policies purchased after 1am, 1 March 2026

Policies purchased after this time will not have cover for anything related to this event. It is no longer considered an unexpected event due to the level of media coverage available at by this time. Our insurance policies only provide cover for events which are unexpected.  

For more than 40 years, we have supported customers through travel disruptions. Our team is here to provide expert care and support. 

If a customer needs help, they can contact our 24-hour emergency assistance team immediately on +64 9 359 1600. 

For any general enquiries regarding this event, they can contact our Customer Service team on 0800 222 093, seven days a week, between 8.30am and 9pm

Customers may still be covered for events and things which are unrelated to this event. For example, a fall or trip in the bathroom, a foodborne illness which means they need to seek medical care, or their wallet or purse is stolen at a train station. 

If unsure, customers can call our emergency assistance team on +64 9 359 1600 or if the matter is not urgent, they can make a claim at My SCTI and we will follow up. 

We advise all customers to keep all receipts and invoices for any payments they may have made, which can be uploaded when a claim is submitted.

Above all, we want everyone to stay safe. If you have any questions, please contact the SCTI team.

The SCTI team

Exclusion information from our policy document:

General exclusions — things we never cover 

These general exclusions apply to the whole policy. These exclusions apply throughout your period of insurance — including before your journey, and while you’re on your journey.

We won’t cover any claims, costs or losses or liabilities directly or indirectly arising from, related to or associated with the following:

• Biological or chemical: Anyone using, or threatening to use, biological or chemical materials, substances, or compounds to harm people, kill people; and/or create public fear.
• Governmental or official: A federal, state, territory or local government or official authority’s directive, restriction, prohibition, quarantine or detention. Examples include a government or official authority closing borders, declaring epidemic or pandemic restrictions, such as a lockdown; and/or seizing items.
• Natural event: You’re travelling to a country or destination where a natural event has occurred before the date your insurance starts. Some examples of natural events are snowstorms, floods, wildfires, cyclones, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
• Nuclear:  Anyone using, or threatening to use, nuclear weapons and other nuclear materials, ionising radiation, and/or radioactive contamination from any nuclear waste or combusting nuclear fuel. In this exclusion, combustion is any self-sustaining process of nuclear fusion or fission.

War and violence: any riot or civil commotion, acts of foreseeable violence, acts involving military operations; and/or war, invasion, or civil war — whether it’s declared or not. Exception: Riot or civil commotion if you’ve already departed for your specific destination before the commotion starts and you take reasonable care to avoid it.