Travel News

Industry news round-up: January 2026

January's headlines reflect both immediate disruption and longer-term shifts, from lessons learned during a major winter storm to policy and technology changes reshaping how business travelers move through the world.
February 2, 2026
Industry news round-up: January 2026

From weather disruptions to airport security and evolving airline policies, the business travel experience continues to change in ways that directly impact travelers and travel managers alike. Here’s a look at January's top stories shaping smarter planning, better expectations, and more informed decisions across the corporate travel landscape.

5 corporate travel lessons from January's massive winter storm

Christopherson experts break down 5 key corporate travel lessons from last weekend’s massive winter storm—from weaving weather risk into trip planning to the power of real-time visibility and clear traveler communication. Whether it’s travel waivers, proactive monitoring, or refining travel policies post-disruption, these insights can help your organization stay resilient when conditions change fast.

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TSA plans major expansion of touchless ID screening in 2026

The TSA is significantly expanding its Touchless ID program, with plans to roll it out to 65 airports by the end of the spring—up from just 15 today. The technology is designed to speed up checkpoints using biometric identity verification, signaling continued changes to the airport security experience for business travelers.

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What travelers need to know as Southwest Airlines launches assigned seating

Southwest Airlines has officially ended its more than 50-year open seating policy and launched a new assigned-seating system with a group-based boarding process that lets passengers see their exact seat on their boarding pass and board in order based on fare type, loyalty status, or purchased perks like extra-legroom seating. The change also includes priority boarding for travelers needing assistance or those with premium fares.

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UK plans further 25% increase to ETA fee for travelers

The UK government plans to raise its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee by 25 %, increasing the cost from £16 to £20 for travelers from visa-waiver countries, though the change still requires parliamentary approval and no implementation date has been set yet. The ETA allows multiple short stays in the UK over two years and the proposal comes as the scheme becomes fully mandatory for eligible visitors, prompting concerns that higher entry costs could affect the UK’s competitiveness as a destination.

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