Zurich dominates early 2026 travel insurance appointments

 A wave of travel insurance agency appointments filed in early 2026 shows Zurich leading the pack by a wide margin, with several other carriers making targeted moves.

Zurich opened 2026 with a sweeping round of travel insurance appointments, activating dozens of agencies on January 12, 2026. Among the newly appointed agencies are household-name travel brands — Southwest Airlines and Expedia — alongside a long tail of independent travel agencies, cruise specialists, and niche tour operators.

Notable specialty agencies in the Zurich batch include Scubaland Travel, Journey to Africa, Africa Adventure Consultants, EuropeanBarging, and Ski Daddy (previosuly appointed with AIG) — a snapshot of how travel insurance distribution runs through highly specialized experiential travel operators. Host agency network Nexion also appears, pointing to Zurich’s reach into the independent advisor channel.

Berkshire Hathaway made a single, pointed travel appointment: Avelo Airlines. The ultra-low-cost carrier, which has been expanding routes aggressively, now has a travel insurance distribution relationship with BHSI — a notable pairing between a budget airline and a high-end specialty carrier.

AXIS appointed Sandhills Insurance Group.

Crum & Forster appointed Magical Enchanted Vacations, the only Fairfax-affiliated move in a batch that included over 70 appointments.