That might be the case if he purchases one-off per ticket policies. But, if he's got a policy as a benefit of a CC, a throwaway as part of homeowners, or through his employer (which often covers personal travel), it would likely cover the cancellation of the current ticket (OP, in fact says that his original ticket was extended, not reissued), so long as the policy was in place prior to the time of its purchase.

The only way to figure out the specifics is to read the terms of the policy.