UK Travel Update: Disruptions, New Routes and Booking Tips for January 2026
LONDON, 20 January 2026 – Travellers across the United Kingdom are facing a mixed picture of ongoing transport disruptions alongside exciting new flight route announcements. From railway engineering works affecting services nationwide to the latest airline expansions, here is your comprehensive travel update for late January 2026.
Current Transport Disruptions
Passengers are advised to check before travelling as multiple rail and potential air disruptions are affecting journeys across the UK this week.
Rail Disruptions (20-23 January 2026)
National Rail reports numerous “minor incidents” affecting services, primarily due to planned engineering works. Key disruptions include:
- South West: Reduced service between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier until end of Wednesday 21 January. Buses replace late night/early morning trains between Brighton and West Worthing until Friday 23 January.
- Wales & Borders: Disruption between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Pontyclun expected until 12:00 today. No trains to/from Cardiff Queen Street after 23:25 each night until Thursday 22 January. Mountain Ash embankment work continues with buses replacing trains between Pontypridd and Aberdare until Friday 23 January.
- South East: Disruption between Gatwick Airport and Purley expected until 13:00 today. Buses replace trains between Gravesend and Gillingham (Kent) from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 January.
- Scotland: Fife Electrification project continues with buses replacing trains between Edinburgh Gateway and Inverkeithing until Sunday 25 January.
- North: Transpennine Route Upgrade causes amended service between Leeds and York until Sunday 25 January.
- Multiple Regions: Amended late night services affect Avanti West Coast, Southeastern, London Northwestern Railway, Transport for Wales, Great Western Railway, and Northern services until Friday 23 January.
Air Travel Context
While no major system-wide air traffic control failures are currently reported, travellers should remain aware of potential disruptions. The UK’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS) experienced a brief technical outage recently, highlighting ongoing system vulnerabilities that have drawn criticism from airlines including Ryanair and easyJet.
KLM has issued travel alerts for passengers, noting severe winter weather impacting Amsterdam Schiphol operations earlier this month (6-12 January 2026), with rebooking options available until 19 January. The airline also reports infrastructure issues in Montego Bay, Jamaica until 31 January 2026 due to Hurricane Melissa.
New Flight Routes for 2025-2026
Airlines are expanding their UK networks with dozens of new routes offering more destination choices for British travellers.
| Airline | New Route (From UK) | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | London Gatwick to Chania, Crete | Summer 2026 |
| British Airways | London Heathrow to St. Louis, USA | April 2026 |
| British Airways | Glasgow to San Sebastián | Summer 2026 |
| Virgin Atlantic | London Heathrow to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 30 March 2025 |
| Virgin Atlantic | London Heathrow to Accra, Ghana | 1 May 2025 |
| Virgin Atlantic | London Heathrow to Cancun, Mexico | 19 October 2025 |
| easyJet | 16 new routes from 8 UK airports | Summer 2026 |
| Wizz Air | London Gatwick to Medina, Saudi Arabia | 1 August 2025 |
| Norse Atlantic | London Gatwick to Cape Town | October 2025 |
| Norse Atlantic | London Gatwick to Bangkok | 26 October 2025 |
Regional airports are also seeing expansion, with Jet2, Tui, and Ryanair adding routes from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bournemouth, and other hubs throughout 2025.
Finding the Best Flight Deals
With dynamic pricing algorithms making flight costs unpredictable, experts recommend several strategies for securing the best fares:
When to Book
Data from KAYAK and Skyscanner suggests:
- Domestic flights: Book 1-3 months in advance, with Thursday often the cheapest day to fly
- International flights: Book 2-6 months in advance, with Wednesday typically offering the lowest fares
- Cheapest months: January for domestic, November for international flights
- Price drops: Often occur early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) after airlines release new deals
Tools and Strategies
Utilise price tracking technology:
- Price Alerts: Set up notifications on Skyscanner or KAYAK to monitor specific routes
- Flexible Dates: Use “Whole Month” views to compare fares across different travel days
- AI Predictors: Services like AirHint use machine learning to analyse millions of fare changes, claiming 80%+ accuracy in predicting optimal booking times
- “Everywhere” Search: If flexible on destination, this tool shows the cheapest options from your departure airport
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my train is cancelled?
Check National Rail’s website for alternative services and bus replacements. You may be entitled to compensation through Delay Repay if your journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more.
Are last-minute flight deals still available?
Yes, but they’re not guaranteed. Last-minute fares are more likely on less popular routes or during off-peak periods. Using price alerts and flexible date searches increases your chances of finding them.
How reliable are airfare prediction tools?
AI-powered predictors analyse historical data and claim high accuracy rates, but airlines’ dynamic pricing algorithms can be unpredictable. These tools provide statistical recommendations rather than guarantees.
What are my rights during travel disruptions?
For flights within Europe delayed 3+ hours or cancelled, you’re entitled to assistance and potentially compensation under EU261 regulations. For rail, Delay Repay schemes vary by operator but typically cover delays of 15-30+ minutes.
Travellers are advised to check directly with transport providers for the latest information before commencing journeys.