As of Saturday, December 27, 2025, travel is experiencing significant disruptions globally, particularly in the United States, due to a combination of severe winter weather and record-breaking post-holiday passenger volumes.
1. Major U.S. Flight Chaos (Winter Storm Devin)
A powerful winter storm named Devin is currently battering the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, leading to widespread travel cancellations:
- Cancellations & Delays: Over 2,000 flights have been cancelled nationwide, with more than 22,000 delays reported today.
- Hardest Hit Airports: Major hubs including JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Detroit (DTW), and Philadelphia (PHL) are seeing the most significant impact. JetBlue and Delta Air Lines have reported the highest number of cancellations.
- States of Emergency: Officials in New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency, urging residents to avoid non-essential road travel as snow, ice, and sleet create treacherous conditions.
- Airlines Response: Many carriers, including United and American Airlines, have issued travel waivers allowing passengers to rebook flights without change fees.
2. Record-Breaking Holiday Volumes
Despite the weather, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reporting near-record passenger numbers:
- Busiest Day: Today is projected to be one of the top three busiest travel days of the season, with an estimated 2.86 million people expected at security checkpoints.
- TSA Improvements: Travelers are benefiting from new "Families on the Fly" lanes and updated policies that allow domestic passengers to keep their shoes on during screening at select checkpoints.
3. International Travel & Visa Updates
Several significant changes to international entry requirements are taking effect or approaching:
- UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA): Starting January 8, travelers from the U.S. and Europe will be required to have a registered ETA to enter the UK.
- Israel Entry Requirements: Beginning January 1, 2026, all passport holders from visa-exempt nations (including the U.S.) must obtain an electronic travel authorization before arrival.
- Brazil eVisa: The reintroduction of visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Australia has been pushed to April 10, 2026, for those who do not already hold a valid physical visa.
- Europe's EES/ETIAS: While the start date has shifted, the EU's new biometric Entry/Exit System is slated for full implementation in 2026, requiring facial scans and fingerprints for non-EU travelers.
4. Airline Industry News
- IndiGo (India): The airline is under investigation by the DGCA following a massive disruption earlier this week where over 1,600 flights were cancelled in a single day due to crew planning gaps under new rest norms.
- Lufthansa: The carrier is reportedly operating some of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners without business class seats due to ongoing certification and supply chain issues with the "Allegris" cabin interior.
- IndiGo International Push: The airline has begun wet-leasing Boeing 787s from Norse Atlantic to expand its long-haul operations to cities like London and Paris.
Travel Tip for Today: If you are traveling through the U.S. Northeast or Midwest, check your flight status frequently before leaving for the airport and consider using "self-service" rebooking tools on airline apps to avoid long wait times on the phone.