We all know that delays, cancellations, and disruption are part of modern travel – but 2025 was the year that really underlined just how important preparation has become.
2025 was a growing year for travel, with UK holidaymakers and business travellers heading overseas in high numbers. Alongside the enthusiasm came two clear lessons; plan for disruption and have the right travel insurance in place. Doing these two things can make all the difference when things don’t go to plan.
Below, we have pulled together a look at what shaped travel in 2025 and how UK travellers can prepare for trips more effectively in 2026.
For many UK passengers, delays and cancellations were no longer the exception – they were part of the journey.
Operational pressures, staffing challenges, infrastructure issues and weather all contributed to increased disruption throughout the year. During the summer 2025 peak travel period, passengers travelling through Manchester Airport experienced widespread delays and last-minute cancellations. High passenger volumes and knock-on delays led to missed connections, and disrupted holiday plans for thousands of travellers.
A national survey found that three in four UK air passengers experienced a flight delay or cancellation — a 40% increase compared with 2023.
While delays are frustrating, they’re becoming a more common part of travel. Most standard travel insurance policies automatically include some level of delay or disruption cover, typically paying benefits if a delay lasts 12 hours or more.
Shorter delays often fall below this threshold, which means they may not trigger a claim. However, policies we offer have optional add-ons that can provide enhanced delay cover, including shorter qualifying periods and higher benefit limits, so it is a good idea to check for this via an add on or policy extension.
In early 2025, a technical system failure at Heathrow airport caused widespread disruption across multiple terminals. Core airport systems, including check-in and baggage handling, were affected – grounding aircraft and delaying departures.
What made this incident particularly disruptive was that it occurred outside extreme weather conditions and not during a traditional peak weekend. Despite recovery efforts, delays continued throughout the day.
For many travellers, this meant:
In total, over 22 million UK passengers faced disruption in 2025, with infrastructure outages and system failures among the main culprits, according to Air Help (reported by Travel Daily Media).
Incidents like this showed that disruption isn’t always predictable, and even well-planned trips can be affected. Travel insurance may offer limited support in certain circumstances, such as missed departures or additional accommodation costs, depending on the cause of the disruption and the terms of the policy. Cover for large-scale events or system failures is often restricted, so it’s important to check what is and isn’t included.
Weather disruption extended well beyond winter storms. Extreme conditions at both UK departure points and overseas destinations increasingly affected flights, transfers, and accommodation plans.
As a result, travellers are paying closer attention to:
Booking Earlier and Looking Further Afield
UK travellers are now planning holidays further in advance and exploring a wider range of destinations. Quieter locations, long-haul trips, and multi-stop itineraries are becoming more popular, alongside traditional European breaks.
Booking earlier can help travellers:
As itineraries become more complex, it’s important to make sure your single trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance policy is suitable for your plans, and to consider whether any additional policy extensions may be helpful to enhance the standard cover.
The EU’s Entry/ Exit System (EES) is expected to be fully operational in 2026. For UK travellers, this means
While EES does not change where you can travel, it does change how you can travel. For official government guidance and information, click here.
Later in 2026, most UK travellers visiting The Schengen Area* will need to complete ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). A simple online travel authorisation completed before departure. It’s not a visa, but it is another essential pre-travel step.
Travel insurance plays an important role in modern travel, particularly when delays or disruption occur. As policies can vary, it’s worth checking the core cover included and considering whether any optional extensions may be appropriate if standard cover doesn’t meet your travel needs.
For example, most standard travel insurance policies include delay cover if your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more. Some policies also offer the option to extend this cover, which can reduce the qualifying delay period and provide automatic settlements without the need to complete a claim form. As well as this, access to Air Doctor Connect is available on all policies except TopDog products (please review your policy wordings) which gives you access to more than 20,000 doctors globally while you’re on holiday abroad.
Delays, cancellations and disruption
If you miss a connection, certain types of travel insurance cover may help with additional accommodation or onward transport costs, depending on the policy terms. Flight delay cover is usually paid as a fixed benefit after a set delay period, rather than covering expenses. Some policies also offer optional enhanced cover, which can trigger an automatic payout after a shorter delay threshold.
Medical emergencies abroad
Emergency treatment, hospital stays, repatriation and 24/7 assistance should all be included. Medical claims can be expensive, so adequate cover limits are essential.
Baggage and belongings
Cover for lost, stolen or delayed luggage can help reduce the stress if your bags don’t arrive on time. Items such as phones, laptops and other electronic devices are often classed as gadgets, while valuables may be defined more narrowly under policy terms. As cover levels and definitions vary, it’s important to check what is included as standard and whether an additional gadget extension is needed.
Weather disruption
With extreme weather affecting travel year-round, insurance can help if your plans are disrupted by severe conditions.
Activities and medical conditions
Winter sports, adventure activities and pre-existing medical conditions must be declared to ensure you’re covered. Some trips may need an added extension.
Before you go, make sure nothing is overlooked. We have created a simple Pre Travel Checklist to help you stay organised and travel with confidence.
What is included:
👉 [Download the Pre Travel Checklist]
UK travel in 2025 was defined by enthusiasm — and unpredictability. Looking ahead to 2026, the message is clear:
Travel will always bring the unexpected — but with the right planning, you can focus on enjoying the journey, wherever it takes you.
* The Schengen Area covers most EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, where border checks are removed between me
Cover levels, exclusions and qualifying conditions vary between providers and policies. Always review the policy wording to ensure the cover meets your individual travel needs