Holidaymakers can buy last-minute travel insurance at Newcastle Airport

Travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct has installed the kiosks to allow people travelling through the airport to purchase last-minute travel insurance in just three minutes.

The kiosks offer customers the same prices as online quotes, meaning no extra costs for booking last minute.

Newcastle is one of nine UK airports having the kiosks installed , following a successful trial at Gatwick last year.

More UK airports are expected to be added to the roll-out plan in the coming months.

Industry figures say almost a quarter of holidaymakers travelled without insurance last year.

Millennials - those born between 1982 -2002 - are the most likely group to travel uninsured, with only 69% taking out a policy, compared with a national average of 78%.

Almost half of Millennials believe that travel insurance is not necessary.

Alison Wild, head of marketing at Columbus Direct, said: “We are incredibly excited about the official roll-out of our digital kiosks throughout the UK.

"Our customer insight has enabled us to identify a rise in the number of so-called ‘last minuters’, who know they require travel insurance, but simply haven’t got around to buying it in advance of departure.

"Travellers have long been buying foreign currency or picking up rental car at airports, so offering them the opportunity to purchase last-minute travel insurance just makes sense.

"We have introduced the kiosk-led solution to make insurance purchase a hassle-free, simple process for busy people, as well as for those who might not have given much thought to the matter prior to their trip.

"With this new service offering we can provide holidaymakers protection against any eventualities, and most importantly, peace of mind.”