The year started with a flurry of changes, and 2025 is ending after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. In addition to the recent hiccup, many destinations around the world experienced abrupt disruptions due to climate change, wars, and overall instability. In 2026, travelers will likely remain affected by these factors.
In the U.S., a second shutdown is possible in January. The federal shutdown that began in October lasted 43 days until a deal was reached. The funding package was extended until January 30, but if the Senate suffers another gridlock, there will be a second shutdown with similar consequences, which could include flight cancellations.
In addition, the aviation industry is also getting increasingly affected by technological outages. In October, Amazon Web Services went down, affecting check-in services for airlines, including Delta and United. In July 2024, an update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused widespread system failures, affecting aviation worldwide. Technological problems have also plagued air traffic controllers in Newark as its decades-old system proved unreliable. Moreover, the travel industry has seen major hacking incidents and data leaks. Technology is likely to be a pain point next year, too, as companies and governments roll out measures to safeguard existing systems.
Here’s How You Can Plan
Opt for a travel insurance policy that can holistically look after you–and reimburse you–when travel goes awry. For example, Faye Travel Insurance policies can cover trip delays–when you’re stranded in transit due to reasons outside of your control, such as flight delay or theft of passport–and interruptions, when you must unexpectedly cut your trip short or extend it for covered reasons, including if you contract COVID-19.
For instance, with Faye, when you experience a flight or luggage delay of six-plus hours, Faye can reimburse you $200 for the inconvenience alone, straight to your phone’s wallet. Meaning it’s not on you to pay for that pricey airport meal or a change of clothes.
And these days, with delays, cancellations, and incidents such as the government shutdown, an extra layer of companionship always comes in handy. Make sure the travel insurance provider you’re considering provides 24/7 support from real humans–on weekends and holidays too.
