✈ Travel and Supply Chain Risks in 2026

International travel and trade are back in full swing. But 2026 is not “back to normal” for routes, costs or risks. Airlines still reroute around higher‑risk airspace, and many shipping lanes face ongoing disruption. For Hong Kong residents and SMEs, it is more important than ever to understand what your travel and cargo insurance actually cover before you book the trip or send the shipment.

At Navigator, we see more questions about war exclusions, political unrest and delays that sit outside standard wording. Many people assume they are covered for any disruption, only to discover limitations at claim time. This article highlights practical checks you can make on your travel, cargo and business policies so you can navigate 2026 with more confidence.

How geopolitics affects routes and timing in 2026

Conflict zones and high‑tension regions continue to influence common air routes and shipping lanes. Airlines may avoid certain airspace or add fuel stops, which can increase flight times and connection risk. Shipping lines adjust schedules or reroute around hotspots, and this can push transit times well beyond what you saw a few years ago.

Government “do not travel” advisories also cover a wider list of destinations than in the past. These warnings influence both trip decisions and insurance coverage, especially for cancellation and emergency assistance. This does not mean you should stop travelling or trading. It does mean you should expect more last‑minute changes and read policy conditions more closely.

Key checks for your travel insurance

Whether you travel for business or holidays, it is worth checking a few specific clauses in your travel insurance Hong Kong plan. You can also refer to our article on Hong Kong outbound travel alerts and essential insurance coverage for more background on alerts and cover.

War, terrorism and travel advisories

Standard travel insurance often excludes losses caused by war and, sometimes, certain terror‑related events. Some plans offer limited benefits for terrorism‑related cancellation or medical treatment, but only for defined incidents and timeframes.

• Check if your policy excludes trips to countries under official “do not travel” warnings.
• See how it treats changes in advice after you book and pay for the trip.
• Ask whether you can add optional cover for higher‑risk regions if your work requires it.

Trip disruption and alternative routing

Disruption is now more common, even without a formal crisis. Many policies focus on cancellation before departure, but you also need to know what happens if flights are rerouted or delayed once you are already travelling.

• Look at how your policy handles missed connections and enforced layovers caused by airline schedule changes.
• Review the limits for extra hotel nights, meals and new tickets.
• Check any rule that says you must choose “economical” options and keep all receipts.

Emergency medical, evacuation and assistance

Medical costs vary widely between countries, especially if you end up in a higher‑cost location than planned. Emergency evacuation can also be restricted to medical need and may not respond to political unrest or general fear of travelling.

• Confirm that your medical limits are high enough for private care if public hospitals are overwhelmed or unsafe.
• Check exactly when evacuation is covered and who makes the decision.
• Save the 24/7 assistance number in your phone before you travel.

Checks for cargo, stock and supply chain cover

For Hong Kong SMEs that import or export goods, cargo and stock insurance is just as important as travel insurance. The wording, however, can be more technical and easy to misunderstand.

War, strikes and political risks on routes

Many marine cargo policies have separate clauses for war and strikes. These can limit or exclude cover for losses linked to conflict, piracy or civil commotion along certain corridors. If your supply chain relies on a sensitive route, this is critical detail.

• Ask which routes and perils your current cargo policy treats as standard, and which need special terms.
• Check whether you have any war‑risk extensions in place.
• Consider political risk or trade disruption cover if you depend on a few high‑risk markets.

Delay, rerouting and business interruption

Traditional cargo insurance focuses on physical loss or damage, not delay. As a result, many SMEs are surprised when long delays or rerouting do not trigger a claim, even though the business impact is serious.

• Check whether your policy mentions delay, deterioration or loss of market, and how these are treated.
• Consider business interruption cover if your revenue depends on goods arriving within a tight window.
• Review any special conditions for perishable or time‑sensitive shipments.

Supplier concentration and alternatives

Over‑reliance on a single supplier or route increases both operational and insurance risk. Insurers now ask more questions about supply chain resilience, and strong answers can support better terms.

• Map your most critical suppliers, routes and logistics partners.
• Identify at least one backup option for key products or components.
• Share this with your broker so the insurance structure matches your real‑world contingency plans.

Simple steps before your next trip or shipment

Before you confirm your next booking, a short review can make a big difference.

• Send your current travel and cargo policy schedules to your broker and highlight your main destinations and routes.
• Check how your contracts allocate risk under INCOTERMS, so you know exactly when you are responsible for the goods.
• List any major delays or near‑misses from the past year and ask whether different cover would have helped.
• Decide in advance who in your company will make decisions and speak to the insurer if a disruption occurs.

“In a more volatile world, the goal is not to remove every risk. The goal is to understand which risks you keep, which you transfer, and how your policies respond when plans change.”

How Navigator can help Hong Kong travellers and SMEs

Every traveller and business is different. At Navigator, we can review your travel insurance, cargo cover and wider business policies, explain the key clauses in plain language, and suggest practical adjustments for 2026.

If you are planning important trips or shipments and are unsure how your current policies would respond to a major disruption, we are here to help. We can benchmark options from different insurers and help you balance cost, cover and real‑world risk.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute personalised advice. For details of our licensing and regulatory status, please refer to our disclaimer.