With the introduction of new self-service digital kiosks, passengers flying out of Newcastle International Airport can now buy last-minute travel cover within just three minutes.
The innovation, designed to address the risk of people travelling uninsured, is being rolled out at nine UK airports by travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct, following a successful trial launch at London Gatwick in August last year.
Almost a quarter of holidaymakers travelled without insurance in 2015.
Millennials are the most likely group to do so, with only 69% taking out a policy compared with the national average of 78%.
In 2014, travel insurers paid out an estimated £370m, with medical treatment being the most common cause for claim.
The new kiosks offer customers the same prices as online quotes for travel cover.
Aside from Newcastle, they are being introduced at London City, Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Southampton, and Edinburgh.
More UK airports are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
