Prices are high, but that isn't stopping folks from traveling in 2026. According to a survey from American Express, around 40% of people globally plan to spend more on travel than last year, with 74% of Millennials and Gen Z respondents saying travel is a "non-negotiable" expense.
Of course, travel comes with a host of risks unique to the destination and mode of travel. With so much money invested in these excursions, more travelers are seeking protection in the form of travel insurance. The market reflects this enthusiasm from consumers, with the travel insurance market size predicted to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% from $30.77 billion in 2025 to $35.97 billion by the end of 2026.
In addition to purchasing insurance coverage, travelers who plan to fly should research their destination, airline and point of departure to ensure they're prepared for possible hiccups.
Flight reliability can vary greatly by airline. Data from Cirium shows that the most reliable airlines in the world as of February 2026 are:
- Aeromexico (91.59% on-time)
- Etihad Airways (88.08%)
- Saudia (88.05%)
- British Airways (86.08%)
- Virgin Atlantic (85.05%)
When looking at North America specifically, airlines with the most on-time flights are:
- Alaska Airlines (85.69%)
- United Airlines (83.38%)
- Delta Airlines (82.53%)
- Southwest Airlines (79.91%)
- American Airlines (79.39%)
In the slideshow above, we'll look at the ten U.S. airports that experience the most flight delays in 2026, according to FlightQueue.
(Photo credit: Eviart/Shutterstock.com)
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