Expected winter travel chaos as more than a million airline seats axed

How travellers are set to be impacted by axed seats

Among the airports set to be impacted by the 1.2 million airline seat cull are Santiago, Tenerife North, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Asturias, Jerez, Vigo and 36 connections between regional Spain and the Canary Islands. 

With fewer scheduled flights and limited seat availability, airlines will have much less flexibility to rebook passengers when there are delays or cancellations. As a result, more Brits may need to rely on their travel insurance to cover unexpected costs and disruptions.

If an airline cancels your flight at the last minute, it's their responsibility to resolve the issue, so your first course of action should be to contact the airline to get a refund or to rebook your flight. But if your airline is unable to rebook your flight within a reasonable time - usually 24 hours - your travel insurance may provide you cover for disruptions to your travel plans.

Flight cancellations are also likely to push seat prices higher due to reduced availability. That’s why having the right travel insurance in place is more important than ever - helping you avoid steep, last-minute expenses and giving you peace of mind from the moment you book.

Our consumer data shows that travel insurance purchases drop significantly during the winter months compared to summer, with only 16.53% of total insurance sales occurring in winter months, compared to 32.38% in summer*.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Travel insurance is important protection for all sesons

There are plenty of scenarios during the winter months that can increase the chances of needing to make a travel insurance claim. From weather-related cancellations and seasonal illnesses to overbooked accommodation during peak periods, the risks are higher than usual.

That’s why it’s always best to secure the right travel insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed. It gives you protection from the moment you book and helps avoid costly surprises later, so you can enjoy your winter break with confidence and peace of mind.

And if you plan to take part in any winter activities, don't forget to add winter sports cover to your policy to ensure your policy gives you the cover you need.

^{Sources
Jet2 cancelling 200,000 seats - Daily Record
Ryanair 1,000,000 seats cut - Euro News
*Consumer data from travel insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between 2021 and 2025}