The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2026 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

• Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 3.8% compared to January 2025. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), increased 3.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.0% (+0.2 ppt compared to January 2025), a record high for January.
• International demand rose 5.9% compared to January 2025. Capacity was up 5.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to January 2025).
• Domestic demand increased 0.1% compared to January 2025. Capacity was down -0.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 81.2% (+0.4 ppt compared to January 2025).

Specialty MGA, a subsidiary of the MNK Group, has initiated a strategic expansion into the Accident and Health (A&H) sector with the appointment of Neil Tayler as Senior Underwriter. This move is designed to establish a dedicated A&H portfolio catering to both UK and international markets. Tayler, a veteran with over 30 years of insurance experience, is tasked with leveraging his technical expertise in consumer and corporate schemes to build a book of business characterized by high-quality underwriting and innovative distribution. This expansion aligns with MNK Group’s broader objective of driving innovation in niche and underdeveloped insurance segments while providing additional capacity for hard-to-place risks.

PhilCare, a prominent Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in the Philippines, has entered into a strategic partnership with Verisk Life, Health and Travel to implement automated health underwriting. By integrating Verisk’s Health Risk Rating Tool into its online application process, PhilCare becomes the first HMO in the Philippines to deploy this technology at scale.

Swiss Life Global Solutions and Generali Group have entered into a long-term commercial partnership and a binding commitment for the acquisition of Swiss Life Network (SLN) by Generali Employee Benefits (GEB). With this transaction, Generali will establish the global #1 employee benefits network managing more than €3 billion in premiums with the aim to set new standards in service and innovation for multinational clients and their employees worldwide.

As part of its goal to become a benchmark in financial planning, MAPFRE, the largest insurance company in Spain, has reorganised the structure of MAPFRE AM, its asset management company, by creating new departments and redefining responsibilities.

Among the main new developments is the creation of a strategic project development and innovation area, which will integrate initiatives already underway, such as the incorporation of the Aladdin technology platform, announced at the end of 2024, and the promotion of the discretional portfolio management business.

PMI-funded private health admissions hit record high of 338,000 in H1 2025

Levelling off of recent rapid growth in insured treatment activity indicates that claims inflation may be cooling, alleviating upwards pressure on renewal premiums for businesses who fund healthcare benefits.

Insurance-funded private health admissions hit record highs in 2025 but there are signs that the rapid growth seen in recent years is slowing which could prove a welcome boost for employers looking to widen and improve their healthcare benefits.

A sharp acceleration in global wealth migration in 2025 is colliding with rapidly diverging private healthcare costs worldwide, making the availability and costs of reliable private care a decisive factor in where high-net-worth families choose to live, invest, and secure residence or citizenship rights.

New client data released by global leaders in citizenship and residence planning, Henley & Partners, confirms record demand for cross-border planning and highlights healthcare cost exposure as a critical “hidden variable” shaping long-term destination decisions for globally mobile families.

SIP Medical Family Office, the Swiss preventive medicine and health management advisory firm, today released the SIP Health Cost Index 2025. This is the only comprehensive, systematic assessment of the real cost of private healthcare across 50 of the most relevant countries for expat executives and affluent families.

Healthcare cost pressures are now increasingly coming from the world’s waistline – and could soon surpass cancer as a leading driver for international private medical insurance (IPMI), according to new evidence from Bupa Global. This surge is being fuelled by the rising prevalence of chronic, lifestyle-linked conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

International private medical insurance provider William Russell is celebrating a landmark 25-year partnership with Allianz Partners, marking a quarter-century of collaboration and shared success. Building on this strong foundation, the company has also announced its plan to launch a new, enhanced service proposition in 2026. William Russell's global health, life, and income protection policies are underwritten by Allianz Partners.