Southern Cross Travel Insurance Launches Real-Time Flight Delay Benefit, Powered by Blink Parametric
CORK, Ireland, July 7, 2026 – Blink Parametric, a global leader in real-time InsurTech assistance, has partnered with Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), a leading travel insurer in New Zealand and Australia, to power TravelCare: Delay Assist, a new real-time flight delay benefit for SCTI customers in both markets. The launch extends Blink’s real-time parametric technology into Australasia, making SCTI the only travel insurer offering automated, real-time flight disruption support in these markets.
TravelCare: Delay Assist will initially be included with SCTI’s International Comprehensive Single Trip policies available to New Zealand and Australian travellers from 1 July. The benefit is designed to provide additional care to customers when delays occur, without the need to submit a claim.
Powered by Blink Parametric’s real-time flight monitoring, the solution detects delays automatically. When a delay of two hours or more is identified within 24 hours of flight departure, registered customers are proactively contacted via email and SMS and offered a choice of digital vouchers for Uber, TripGift or Woolworths. The vouchers can be used during a trip or after the traveller returns home.
This practical and proactive approach takes some of the sting out of a frustrating time. There’s no need to submit a claim for Delay Assist, and all other policy benefits remain in place for unexpected travel disruptions or changes to customers’ journeys.
The solution will be rolled out across both New Zealand and Australia, supporting SCTI’s focus on delivering a more responsive and customer-centric travel insurance experience.
By embedding Blink’s real-time support directly into its policies, SCTI is enhancing the value of its cover while strengthening trust with customers throughout their journey.
Carole Tokody, CEO at Southern Cross Travel Insurance, said:
“There is absolutely no doubt that travel disruption due to delays is on the increase. We’ve paid out more than 61,000 claims over the last three years related to delays and the incidence is certainly on the up, year on year. In fact, we’ve seen a 24% increase across that period.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve experiences for our customers, especially in the moments that matter most. Travel disruption can be stressful and frustrating, so giving our customers immediate support when delays happen is a really important step forward. This new offering reflects our focus on making travel insurance simpler, more useful, and responsive to real customer needs.”
Perry McShane, Director of Strategic Accounts at Blink Parametric, said:
“This is a strong example of how travel insurance is evolving. SCTI is delivering real-time, proactive support today, with a model that can be extended across different customer journeys and touchpoints as their offering continues to grow. Blink is delighted to partner with SCTI in creating a more responsive and meaningful experience during travel disruption.”
“The solution has been designed with flexibility in mind, enabling SCTI to offer a simple, scalable benefit across its direct-to-consumer offering in both markets and forms part of SCTI’s broader strategy to embed innovation into its products, using technology to deliver more seamless, value-driven customer experiences.”
About Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI)
Southern Cross Travel Insurance is a leading travel insurance provider with more than 40 years’ experience in New Zealand and more than 15 years in Australia, having cared for 6 million plus travellers. SCTI offers a range of comprehensive insurance products designed to support travellers before, during, and after their journeys. SCTI provides travel cover to customers in Australasia through its direct-to-consumer offering and in partnership with agents and brokers
