Airport anxiety drives travel behaviour shift as holidaymakers seek reassurance

Searches for ‘airport anxiety’ have surged 250% over the past three months, highlighting growing traveller concerns ahead of the bank holiday getaway period.

New research from Go.Compare suggests those concerns are already influencing travel behaviour. More than a quarter of Britons have changed their holiday plans this year, with 41% of those making changes opting to alter their travel dates. Concerns about airport disruption and international crises were among the key reasons cited.

Passenger volumes are also increasing. UK airports handled one million more passengers in the first quarter of 2026 than during the same period last year, adding pressure to airport infrastructure. Gatwick, which expects more than 900 flights on peak August days, currently records average departure delays of more than 31 minutes, while the probability of a flight delay on a given journey is estimated at up to 37%.

“Travel anxiety is genuinely reshaping how Brits holiday in 2026,” said Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare. “And the most practical antidote to travel stress isn’t avoiding disruption – it’s knowing exactly what you're entitled to claim when it happens. A few minutes spent checking your policy before you leave could save you hundreds if things go wrong.”

For insurers and intermediaries, the findings underline the importance of clear customer communication around disruption-related cover. Go.Compare is urging travellers to review policy terms before departure, particularly around delay benefits, airline cancellations, and overnight accommodation cover.

The comparison site also warned that travelling against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice can invalidate travel insurance cover entirely, making pre-departure checks a critical part of risk management for travellers.

Financial concerns have risen to match health as the world’s leading personal worry, according to a new global consumer survey from Allianz.