Border Security Act and “earned settlement” take centre stage in Immigration Advice Authority’s January 2026 bulletin
Spain Approves Historic Decree to Regularise Up to 500,000 Undocumented Migrants
India and EU sign landmark Mobility Pact to ease movement of students and skilled professionals
Latest News
Monster Winter Storm Grounds Business Travel Across the United States
A massive winter storm forced more than 16,000 U.S. flight cancellations and thousands of delays from 25-27 January, crippling business-travel corridors and shutting federal offices. Major hubs in Boston, Dallas, New York and Atlanta were hardest hit, and economic losses are pegged above US$100 billion. Mobility managers face disrupted start-dates, while airlines scramble to restore schedules.
Middle East airspace detours turn Larnaca into a technical-fuel hub for long-haul flights
Airlines rerouting to dodge Iranian and Iraqi skies now plan refuelling stops at Larnaca Airport, generating a sudden spike in traffic and ancillary revenue for Cyprus. The detours lengthen flight times and introduce visa-compliance quirks for transit passengers—issues global mobility teams should flag to travellers.
UAE rules out use of its airspace for attacks on Iran as carriers keep Dubai flights running
The UAE Foreign Ministry has confirmed it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. While European and Asian carriers are rerouting around Iranian and Iraqi skies, Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports remain fully operational and UAE-based airlines continue to fly. Businesses should expect minor schedule extensions and build extra buffer time into itineraries, but no wholesale disruption is foreseen.
Technical Glitch Grounds Traffic at Geneva Airport, Causing Day-Long Delays
A software failure at air-traffic-control provider Skyguide closed Geneva airspace for nearly an hour on 27 January 2026, diverting 11 flights and triggering day-long delays. Operations were restored to 80 % capacity by late morning, but airlines warned travellers to expect knock-on disruption. The incident highlights the vulnerability of heavily scheduled Swiss hubs and the importance of robust IT change-management for corporate mobility planning.
Cyprus puts EU Migration Pact implementation at the heart of its 2026 Council presidency
Cyprus’ Deputy Migration Minister has announced that implementing the EU Migration and Asylum Pact will be the flagship theme of Nicosia’s EU Council presidency starting in July 2026. Draft national laws are already before parliament, extra border staff are being hired and a ministerial conference is planned for September 2026. Faster asylum processing and stricter pre-entry screening will have direct consequences for global mobility programmes.
IRCC’s latest Express Entry round invites 6,000 CEC candidates—cut-off falls to 509 CRS
A Business Today update confirms IRCC issued 6,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates, lowering the CRS cut-off to 509. The draw strengthens pathways for in-country talent and signals continued emphasis on transitioning temporary workers to permanent residence.
Virgin Australia Opens Canberra’s First International Route With New Direct Flights to Bali
Virgin Australia will launch thrice-weekly Canberra–Bali flights from 22 June 2026, giving the ACT its first scheduled international service since 2008. The new route responds to surging demand for Indonesian leisure and removes time-consuming domestic connections for business travellers. Companies with Canberra-based staff should add the service to preferred-supplier lists and brief travellers on new immigration and biosecurity procedures at Canberra Airport.
Unions File Strike Notice at Liège Airport, Threatening Cargo and Passenger Operations
Two major unions have given formal notice of industrial action at Liège Airport over staffing and workload concerns. Unless an accord is reached, cargo and charter-flight operations could be paralysed around 10 February, affecting supply chains and business travel that rely on the airport’s growing network.([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1939340/strike-notice-issued-at-liege-airport/))
US H-1B visa-stamping backlog pushes Indian interview dates into 2027
Regular H-1B interview slots at US consulates in India are fully booked until 2027 after months of mass rescheduling linked to new vetting rules. The unprecedented backlog traps Indian workers, disrupts corporate assignments and forces companies to find costly alternatives.
Six-Day Nationwide Train Drivers’ Strike Cripples German Rail Network
A six-day strike by union GDL has shut down roughly 80 percent of Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance trains and most regional services since 24 January, causing major disruption for business travellers and supply chains. Wage talks remain deadlocked, and calls for compulsory arbitration are mounting.