SHANGHAI-BASED Spring Airlines yesterday issued China's first online flight delay insurance to compensate passengers a maximum 400 yuan (US$63.40) if their flights are delayed or cancelled.

The budget carrier yesterday signed a contract with Shanghai-based Dazhong Insurance.

Costing 20 yuan, the insurance is available on the airline's website. Passengers will get 200 yuan after a flight was delayed for over three hours and 400 yuan after six hours. They will get 300 yuan when their flight is cancelled.