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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?

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IndiGo Faces Massive Flight Cancellations: Can Travel Insurance Save Stranded Flyers?


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IndiGo faces massive flight cancellations despite DGCA rollback, affecting thousands. Experts like advise on travel insurance claims and proper documentation.

ndiGo Disruption Intensifies: What Travel Insurance Covers During Flight Chaos

There seems to be no end to the mayhem of IndiGo’s operational meltdown as hundreds of flights have been cancelled on Saturday. The chaos has continued despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rolling back the Flight Duty Time Limitations orders, which were the lead cause to disrupt the capability of carriers to maintain regular operation.

Thousands of passengers, from students to senior citizens to professionals, have been affected in the past few days during the flight cancellations, disrupting their plans and schedules. Along with that, they have to face monetary losses too.

Travel insurance is one such option that travelers can use while facing this kind of situation. Not many of people in India are aware of how a travel insurance works and whether all plans cover flight cancellation costs.

Meet Kapadia, Head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar.com said that travel Insurance offers fixed pay outs if the traveller is stranded for a specified number of hours (6–12 hours).

“They also reimburse the cost if the flight is cancelled and traveller has to book a new flight, or arrange hotel stay, cover meals, essentials, and other emergency purchase,” Kapadia added.

Customers, however, should know that a very low-priced/ basic product of travel insurance may not pay for non-medical losses from an airline operational cancellation unless that benefit is purchased, according to Chetan Vasudeva, Senior Vice President – Business Development at Elephant.in, Alliance Insurance Brokers.

“No – basic plans may not fully cover losses from airline operational problems unless the policy explicitly includes or has an option for trip cancellation / carrier cancellation, trip interruption, missed-connection or trip-delay benefits,” Vasudeva added.

He further told that many standard travel policies include only basic medical, baggage and emergency assistance by default. “If you want protection specifically against airline operational issues, check for carrier cancellation/trip cancellation/missed-connection or buy a cancel-for-any-reason add-on cover.”

Beyond the financial safety net , the insurer also provides 24×7 assistance and emergency support to help passengers manage disruption with less stress in unfamiliar locations.

What Should Customers Need To Do To Get Claims?

The first 24 hours after a flight cancellation are crucial for building a strong claim file.

The policyholder should immediately need to obtain written proof from the airline such as an email, SMS, or a formal flight disruption certificate, that clearly state the due cause and timing of the cancellation, explained Vasudeva. “At the same time, this is when policyholder should inform their insurance provider’s helpline immediately after the disruption; quick intimation is often listed as a mandatory requirement in most policies,” he added.

During this period, every incidental expense such as food, hotel stays, transport, or rebooking, should be supported with itemized receipts and payment proofs. If the airline offers alternative arrangements like meal vouchers or free accommodation, passengers need to preserve those records as well, because insurers cross-verify what has already been compensated.

Careful documentation in the first 24 hours substantially reduces the chances of queries, delays, or rejection during the processing of claims, Vasudeva stated.

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Claire’s closes all 154 stores in UK and Ireland with loss of 1,300 jobs

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Claire’s closes all 154 stores in UK and Ireland with loss of 1,300 jobs



All of the chain’s standalone stores have stopped trading in the UK and Ireland.



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Domino’s Pizza stock falls on disappointing sales — and CEO thinks more chains will follow

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Domino’s Pizza stock falls on disappointing sales — and CEO thinks more chains will follow


A pedestrian walks by a Domino’s Pizza on Dec. 9, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Domino’s Pizza stock fell 10% in morning trading on Monday after it reported weaker-than-expected U.S. same-store sales growth.

The chain’s domestic same-store sales rose just 0.9%, lower than the 2.3% bump expected by Wall Street analysts, based on StreetAccount estimates.

“We’re not happy with it,” CEO Russell Weiner told CNBC.

The pizza chain also lowered its full-year U.S. same-store sales forecast to low-single digit growth, down from its prior projection that U.S. same-store sales will increase 3%.

Weiner said he expects more fast-food chains to report similar headwinds from winter weather and weak consumer sentiment, which took a dive in March due to spiking fuel prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

“One of the bad things about reporting first is you don’t get to hear about anybody else,” Weiner said.

Domino’s kicked off the earnings season for restaurant chains. Starbucks is on deck after the bell on Tuesday, and Chipotle Mexican Grill and Pizza Hut owner Yum Brands are expected to share their results on Wednesday. Rival Papa John’s will report its earnings next Thursday.

During the quarter, Domino’s also faced stiffer competition from rival pizza chains. Papa John’s and Pizza Hut both matched Domino’s $9.99 “Best Deal Ever” with promotions at the same price point. And Little Caesars undercut Domino’s $6.99 Mix & Match deal with a $5.99 version.

“People are seeing what we’re doing, and they’re sick of losing share, and they’re coming at it,” Weiner said, adding that he still expects Papa John’s and Pizza Hut to report same-store sales declines for the quarter despite the new promotions.

Looking ahead, Weiner expressed confidence that Domino’s will prove itself in the long run.

“Domino’s has got a bigger advertising budget than our second two competitors combined,” he said. “And those competitors are both going up for sale, so we know things aren’t good there right now.”

Yum announced in November that it was exploring strategic options for Pizza Hut, which could include a sale. And Papa John’s is reportedly in talks with Qatari-backed Irth Capital to go private. Both chains have also announced plans to close hundreds of restaurants this year, which could further boost Domino’s dominant position in the pizza category.

And if either Pizza Hut or Papa John’s goes private, Weiner said he expects that a new owner would shutter even more locations — a win for Domino’s.

Shares of Domino’s have lost nearly a third of their value over the last year. The company’s market cap has fallen to roughly $11.2 billion.

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United Airlines CEO confirms he approached American Airlines about merger

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United Airlines CEO confirms he approached American Airlines about merger


United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby (L) and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom listen as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters outside the White House on October 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby confirmed Monday that he contacted American Airlines about a potential merger, a possibility American rejected.

“I approached American about exploring a combination because I thought we could do something incredible for customers together,” Kirby said in a statement. He said he shared his “big, bold vision” because he was confident it could win regulatory approval.

American rejected the idea and its CEO, Robert Isom, last week said such a merger would be bad for customers and “anticompetitive.”

Kirby had floated the idea to the Trump administration earlier this year, according to people familiar with the matter who weren’t authorized to discuss the private conversation, in hopes that the combination would mean a big global airline to compete with foreign rivals

American declined to comment on Kirby’s Monday statement.

“I was hoping to pitch that story to American, but they declined to engage and instead responded by publicly closing the door,” Kirby said in his statement Monday. “And without a willing partner, something this big simply can’t get done.”

He said that “American’s public comments make it clear that a merger like this is off the table for the foreseeable future” but outlined his vision for a combined airline.

Kirby reiterated that the country has deficit with foreign airlines that fly more than half of the long-haul seats into the U.S., with most of the customers being Americans.

“The combined scale of United and American would be a better way to compete with foreign carriers,” he said.

President Donald Trump said he was against the idea of a combination last week.

“I don’t like having them merge,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday morning. He said he would, however, like someone to buy struggling discount carrier Spirit but he also suggested that the federal government could “help that one out.”

Spirit and the Trump administration are in advanced talks for a rescue package.

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