Flying in 2026 will bring seven changes for UK travellers.

The UK will introduce an Electronic Travel Authorisation on 25 February 2026, and airlines are increasingly using AI tools to rebook passengers and manage disruption.

UK travellers can expect several practical changes to air travel in 2026. New digital entry systems and operational shifts at airlines and airports are being rolled out as demand rises and regulators press for more transparency. The article draws on airline schedules, booking patterns and announced rule changes to identify seven areas that will affect the passenger experience. These include digital travel authorisations, fuller flights, changing long‑haul routes, evolving baggage rules, clearer environmental charges, wider AI use, and more focus on non‑standard travellers. Key developments: - The UK plans to introduce an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026; the ETA will link to passports and permit stays of up to six months for tourism, business and similar short visits. British and Irish citizens will not need an ETA, while travellers from about 85 nationalities that currently do not require a visa will. - The EU’s ETIAS system is expected to launch in late 2026, which will require authorisation for visits to Schengen Area countries. - Industry forecasts point to record passenger numbers combined with limited capacity growth, producing flights that operate closer to full and fewer last‑minute empty‑seat deals. - Some carriers are offering direct long‑haul services from smaller UK and European airports, often using single‑aisle (narrower) aircraft on routes that used to rely on larger jets via major hubs. - Cabin baggage access and costs are being tailored fare‑by‑fare and route‑by‑route, with overhead bin access increasingly tied to ticket bundles, loyalty status or paid add‑ons. - Airlines and airports are rolling out AI systems to predict delays, rebook passengers automatically and allocate limited seats when disruption occurs; these tools can act without human intervention and are already affecting rebooking decisions. Summary: The UK's ETA is scheduled to start on 25 February 2026 and the EU’s ETIAS is expected later in the year, increasing the prevalence of pre‑travel digital authorisations. Carriers are operating with higher loads and constrained capacity, leading to fuller flights, more direct regional long‑haul services on narrower aircraft, fare‑specific cabin baggage rules, clearer environmental charges at booking, and more algorithmic handling of disruption. How passengers experience these shifts will depend on how the new systems and policies are implemented in the months ahead.