The airline has responded to passenger concerns online after a 14-hour delay
The passenger said their flight was due for take off at 12pm, but was delayed until 2am (stock image)(Image: Getty)
EasyJet has issued an alert after passengers say they were left waiting hours and hours for their flight due to a major delay. The budget airline is popular nationwide for its wide range of flights and affordable fares.
However, as with any airline, unforeseen circumstances can lead to delays, resulting in passengers waiting longer to board their plane. In a recent online post, one EasyJet passenger claimed they had waited 12 hours, with another two hours to go, because their flight was “delayed”.
Explaining the situation and asking EasyJet for input, the passenger, called Gillian Telfer, took to X to say: “@EasyJet, our flight to Glasgow from Rome was due to depart today at 11.55am. We were told that due to a technical issue there would be a delay.”
They added: “It is now 00.20am and we have an estimated flight at 2am. There are many families here all desperately tired.”
Responding to the post in a fresh alert on its official X account today (April 11), a spokesperson for the airline said there are “many factors” that may delay a flight, including “safety reasons”. They explained: “Hi Gillian, thank you for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your flight to Glasgow from Rome was delayed.
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“Unfortunately, many factors come together that can lead to our flights being delayed. This may be for safety reasons and required regulatory approvals. Thanks, Anga.”
Flight delays can last for many hours since airlines have very strict schedules. Just one small problem can cause a ‘ripple effect’ that affects many other flights.
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, if your flight is delayed for several hours, you are typically entitled to assistance regardless of the cause. If the delay is two hours or more, passengers are entitled to food and drink vouchers.
For delays that last three hours or more, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation, especially if the delay was within the airline’s control, for instance, a technical fault. If a delay lasts overnight, however, passengers are entitled to hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
A statement on the EasyJet website reads: “The best place to keep up to date on the status of your flight with real-time information is via our Flight Tracker, which can also be accessed via our mobile app. If your flight is more than two days in advance, please sign in by using your booking reference and last name or your account details.”
The airline says that if a delay is longer than five hours, passengers can change their flights for a later date, subject to seats being available. Alternatively, they can cancel their delayed flight and apply for a full refund.
Multiple global forces are rewriting D&O risk, from political, economic, and social volatility to AI-related liabilities.
Corporate directors and officers are operating in a more complex environment than at any point in the past decade, and their insurers are working to keep up.
“Coverage is broadening,” says Mark Sutton, senior equity partner at Clyde & Co., a global law firm headquartered in London and known for its deep specialization in insurance, risk, and regulatory matters. “We’re slowly seeing D&O policies evolve to reflect a more complex regulatory environment, and underwriting discipline is tightening.”
Regulators, meanwhile, are stepping up their pursuit of corporate misconduct. Personal exposure for directors and officers has widened and, with rising legal costs and collective actions, D&O premiums are nudging upward. In some regions, the long trend of price decline shows signs of flattening, or in some instances even reversing.
Regulatory pressures will vary across regions. For example, in the UK, scrutiny of ESG and AI disclosures is intensifying, and in the US, enforcement actions by the US Securities and Exchange Commission are on the rise.
But board‑level exposure is also being reshaped by geopolitical turbulence, economic uncertainty, and the growing influence of new technologies, says Jarrod Schlesinger, global head of Financial Lines and Cyber at Allianz Commercial. Geopolitics has become a core focus for boards and executive leadership teams worldwide.
“Political, economic, and social volatility across regions is affecting supply chains, capital flows, regulatory regimes, and operational continuity,” says Schlesinger. “Armed conflicts, sanctions, cyberattacks, and trade disputes are now routine considerations for multinational companies.” Heightened volatility leaves companies and their leaders exposed to a variety of operational, financial, and reputational threats, many of which could trigger litigation.
Europe: Intensifying Scrutiny
Jarrod Schlesinger, Allianz Commercial
This dynamic is especially pronounced in Europe, says Schlesinger, as companies navigate risks tied to international sanctions and politically unstable regions: “Geopolitical instability is also amplifying cross‑border compliance exposure and driving significant D&O losses, particularly in Europe and the UK.”
Corporate insolvencies—a major driver of D&O claims, particularly for private companies—are set to rise again in 2025 and 2026. According to Allianz Trade, global business insolvencies rose 10% in 2024, ending the year 12% above pre‑pandemic levels. Allianz Trade’s Global Insolvency Report, published last month, estimates they climbed a further 6% in 2025 and forecasts a 5% increase in 2026, marking a fifth consecutive year of increases.
“Financial distress typically intensifies scrutiny of board decision‑making and capital allocation,” says Schlesinger.
Shareholder activism is also reshaping the D&O landscape, he adds, as “derivative litigation” expands both in frequency and severity. Such actions now number in the dozens each year, he says, and often track securities class actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty. Beyond traditional accounting‑related disputes, he points to the rise of event‑driven claims, with M&A activity, regulatory enforcement, workplace and consumer issues, and other operational shocks increasingly acting as triggers for D&O suits.
Another factor impacting D&O insurance in Europe is the evolving landscape of ESG-related liabilities.
As more countries introduce ESG reporting mandates, directors and officers are increasingly exposed to the costs associated with investigations, enforcement actions, and potential fines for non-disclosure or misrepresentation. The regulatory pressure can lead to claims from private litigants dissatisfied with disclosures regarding a company’s ESG commitments.
“Expanding disclosure and reporting regimes—particularly in Europe and other major markets—are elevating expectations around transparency, climate strategy, supply chain oversight, human rights, and workforce governance,” Schlesinger says. “ESG considerations are increasingly systemic, intersecting with enterprise risk management, capital strategy, and stakeholder engagement.”
Non-accounting securities class actions have more than doubled over the past decade, he adds, and environmental and product-related controversies, including emerging risks tied to “forever chemicals,” have produced costly litigation and substantial settlements.
AI Risk Arrives
Against this backdrop, another major emerging exposure is the widening gap between what companies claim about their AI capabilities and what they are implementing, a misalignment that can spur regulatory scrutiny, securities litigation, and shareholder actions.
“Boards are increasingly accountable for a widening set of AI‑related risks,” says Beena Ammanath, executive director of the Global Deloitte AI Institute, “from model inaccuracies and hallucinations to IP leakage, privacy breaches, bias, ethical lapses, and cybersecurity exposure: all of which carry growing legal and regulatory consequences.” With weak governance, she warns, these issues can “quickly lead to reputational damage.”
Scrutiny is now extending to another fast‑emerging hazard, Ammanath adds: AI‑washing, where companies misrepresent their use of AI to appear more advanced or innovative than they are. This often takes the form of vague “AI‑powered” claims without evidence, inflated descriptions of automation or risk controls, or the masking of manual processes behind the language of machine intelligence.
“We’re seeing an uptick in scrutiny in this area,” Ammanath says. “As a result, many executives and their boards are pushing harder for stronger governance, testing, and human oversight.”
How Companies Are Limiting Risk
Mark Sutton, Clyde & Co.
As the risk environment grows more complex, boards are increasingly compelled to reevaluate the scope and substance of directors’ and officers’ obligations.
“Boards are strengthening governance and improving disclosure practices while also investing in more robust risk oversight,” says Sutton. “This is particularly the case with ESG and technology.” Many are enhancing their scenario planning and crisis response capabilities to manage regulatory and geopolitical shocks.
Insurers, for their part, are collaborating more closely with clients to improve transparency, refine risk controls, and tailor coverage to emerging exposures, Sutton adds, with the emphasis shifting toward proactive risk management.
Given the increasingly complex global risk landscape, Schlesinger urges companies to “further integrate geopolitical intelligence and business‑impact analysis into their broader risk management, strategic decision‑making, supply‑chain resilience, and cyber security frameworks.” To this end, he recommends that corporate risk managers work closely with their insurance partners to identify and mitigate their risk exposures.
“It’s important to maintain open communication with internal and external stakeholders to navigate these complex and evolving risks effectively,” he says. Furthermore, with litigation, financial penalties, and reputational damage all potentially resulting from AI strategy, “businesses should consider proceeding deliberately, especially with regard to decision-making and disclosure.”
When it comes to AI accountability, Ammanath says, companies can reduce risk to boards and officers by establishing a formal AI governance program that provides clear board oversight and defined accountability across the AI lifecycle. “They can also embed responsible AI practices into processes and training as well as model risk management that includes risk assessments, validation, and continuous monitoring.”
Taken together, these primary forces are reshaping both the expectations corporate leaders face and the liabilities that follow. Boards are being asked to demonstrate sharper judgment, stronger governance, and more credible oversight at a time when regulators, investors, and insurers are scrutinizing decisions with unprecedented intensity.
Regulatory investigations and claims activity continue to rise across major markets, adding further pressure to a sector where years of premium declines are now flattening out and, in some regions, have begun to reverse. D&O insurers, for their part, are tightening underwriting discipline, engaging more deeply with clients to improve transparency and risk controls, and tailoring coverage to emerging exposures.
Serious food poisoning cases for UK tourists at popular travel hotspots revealed
People eating abroad are being told to take precautions after a study showed the places most likely to get food poisoning(Image: Getty)
All UK travellers and tourists planning a trip abroad have been issued a warning by health officials after a new study showed high levels of food poisoning hitting some popular resourts. A study from Cambridge University found 13 destinations in particular having higher odds of people contracting serious food poisoning such as Shigellosis, Salmonellosis, and Giardiasis.
The Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website this week issued an alert warning people to take precautions, especially when travelling to popular destinations outside the EU – although some hotspots there were flagged up in the report too.
Travel Health Pro said: “All UK travellers and tourists planning a trip abroad are reminded to follow good food and water hygiene advice. This study shows that visiting countries outside of the EU, and to high-risk areas which had low water, sanitation and hygiene scores, increases the risk of infections that can cause stomach upset, like diarrhoea or vomiting.
Between 1 July and 15 October 2023, a rise in stomach bugs was reported in travellers returning to England from popular holiday destinations, including Egypt, Mexico, Tunisia and Turkey. Many of these travellers stayed in all-inclusive tourist resorts. The study also suggests the true number of infections is likely to be higher, as it only counted cases diagnosed in travellers after they returned home.”
Destinations where high levels of food poisoning were detected in UK tourists are:
Egypt
Mexico
Tunisia
Turkey
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Cape Verde
Morocco
India
Pakistan
Thailand,
Greece
Spain
The study said: ”Thirteen destinations were associated with higher odds of becoming a case, of which the highest odds were reported for Egypt, Mexico, Tunisia, and Turkey, with the odds of illness in travellers to Egypt 23 times higher than those visiting France.
“For those travelling to low-risk destinations, eating undercooked meat or fish, eating meat or fish purchased from local restaurants and airports, drinking purified water, and swallowing water from environmental water sources (rivers, lakes, sea, and swimming pools) were all found to be associated with higher odds of illness. In high-risk destinations, eating foods consumed on trips or excursions, swallowing water from environmental sources, drinking fruit juice or smoothies, and eating foods from hotel buffets were all associated with higher odds of being a case.”
Travel health pro this week urged people to take these steps:
Practice good food and water hygiene at all times, even in high-end, all-inclusive resorts.
Wash your hands often, including before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, after changing nappies and before and after sex.
Eat recently prepared food that is fully cooked and served piping hot.
Where there is no clean water supply, drink only bottled or boiled tap water (this includes brushing your teeth).
Always avoid ice in your drinks.
Avoid fresh fruit that you have not peeled yourself and salads not washed with bottled or boiled water.
Avoid swallowing water from ponds, lakes and untreated swimming pools.
If you become ill abroad:
Drink plenty of ‘safe’ fluids, such as bottled water, or tap water that has been boiled and cooled, and use oral rehydration solutions so that you do not become dehydrated.
Get early medical advice if you are at greater risk of complications from gastrointestinal infections, this includes babies/young children, older adults, pregnant women and people who are immunosuppressed or have ongoing health conditions.
Seek medical help if symptoms (such as diarrhoea and vomiting) last more than a few days or are not improving.
Wash contaminated clothes or bedding on a hot wash and clean toilets, taps and door handles regularly.
Avoid using swimming pools if you have a stomach bug. Take children on regular toilet breaks and check nappies often. If you have been told you have cryptosporidium do not use a swimming pool for 2 weeks after your diarrhoea has stopped.
Martin Lewis has explained the personal savings allowance and when basic rate taxpayers with over £22,000 in savings could pay tax on interest earned
08:47, 13 Mar 2026Updated 08:53, 13 Mar 2026
Martin Lewis gave some crucial savings tax advice to help people avoid unnecessary tax(Image: ITV)
Martin Lewis has issued a tax alert for savers, with a particular warning for those holding more than £11,000 or £22,000 in savings, depending on their tax bracket. On his ITV programme this week, Mr Lewis provided savers with guidance on structuring their savings to prevent unnecessary tax charges on interest.
He began by explaining the personal allowance, which permits anyone to earn £12,570 before any tax is levied. This threshold has remained frozen since 2021, and last November Chancellor Rachel Reeves controversially extended this freeze until 2031.
The freeze has faced criticism for creating ‘fiscal drag’, meaning more of the lowest earners in the country now pay tax as inflation and wage rises leave them with less disposable income whilst facing higher taxation.
On this he said: “The first one, the personal allowance, £12,570 a year that you can earn from any source, earnings, rent, savings, interest without paying tax on. Most people get that unless you start earning over £100,000 when it’s taken away.”
Starting Rate for Savings Tax.
Mr Lewis said: “The next one not that many people know about is called the starting rate for savings. This is another £5,000 of savings. savings interest you can earn a year on top of the personal allowance. And this is designed for people who have low work earnings but high interest on savings. Often people who are retired. And here’s how it works.
“For every pound of earnings you earn above this allowance, you lose a pound on your starting savings rate. So imagine you earn £13,570. You’re a £1,000 above that. You can now only have £4,000 of tax-free interest in your savings due to the starting savings rate. And by the time you earn from work £17,570, this is gone. So it’s only for people on low work earnings and high interest on savings.”
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He previously outlined that those in the ‘perfect circumstance’ would receive £12,570 from earned income. Mr Lewis explained the individual would then gain £5,000 through the starting savings allowance, plus £1,000 from the personal savings allowance on top ‘because they all go on top of each other’.
He added: “You could earn £18,570 a year tax-free with £12,570 of it coming from work or other sources, and another £6,000 of it coming from savings. I hope that makes sense. The main two for most people are the personal allowance and the personal savings allowance, but for those on lower incomes, it’s worth reading the starting savings allowance guide that’s our money saving expert just so you really understand it.”
Personal savings allowance
Mr Lewis described this as the ‘big one’ and said: “Next, we get the big one that many of you will know about, the personal savings allowance. And this is on top of those two. This is the fact that a basic rate taxpayer, 20% taxpayer, can earn £1,000 a year of interest in any form of savings at all without paying tax on it. Now, the top savings accounts at the moment pay about 4.5 per cent. So, you need about 22,000, just a little over £22,000 in the top savings account before you earned £1,000 interest.
“So, if you got less than that, you’re not going to be paying tax on your savings interest because it’s tax free. High rate tax because it’s within your personal savings allowance. High rate taxpayers pay £500 a year of interest they can make each year tax free. It’s about £11,000 saved at the top rate.
“If you’re an additional rate taxpayer earning over £125,000, you don’t get one of these. So, you got your personal allowance, your starting rate for savings, and on top of that up to another £1,000 in your personal savings allowance.”
For the 2025/26 tax year, the UK Personal Allowance stays at £12,570, with a 20% basic rate (up to £50,270), 40% higher rate (£50,271-£125,140), and 45% additional rate (over £125,140) applying to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Mr Lewis stated that this week’s show was focused on ISAs, explaining: “You can put up to £20,000 a tax year in, as you know. And crucially, the interest earned in a cash ISA does not count towards the personal allowance, does not count towards the starting rate of savings does not count towards the personal savings allowance. It is totally separate from that. So, anything you earn in there is not taxable. I should note premium bonds work roughly the same way, but it’s not an annual allowance. It’s a maximum £50,000 you can put in in total. Those are the main ways that you can save without paying tax on them.”
