The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported growing passenger demand for artificial intelligence (AI), biometric identification and digital passports, while warning that complex immigration and visa procedures are increasingly discouraging international travel.
The findings, published in IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger
Survey (GPS), highlight three major trends shaping the future of air travel:
the mainstream adoption of biometric technology, the growing use of AI in
travel planning, and rising frustration with entry requirements.
“Passengers are embracing technology to make travel easier,”
said Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice-president of operations, safety and
security. He called on governments to simplify entry procedures, eliminate
duplicate checks and accelerate the issuance and acceptance of secure digital
travel credentials.
Biometrics gain acceptance as digital passport interest
grows
Biometric identification is becoming increasingly common at
airports, with 58% of passengers reporting that they had used the technology
during their airport journey in the previous 12 months, up from 50% in 2025 and
24 percentage points higher than in 2022.
Passenger satisfaction with biometrics has also reached a
new high. Among those who have experienced the technology, 87% said they were
satisfied, compared with 86% in the previous survey.
The survey found that 78% of passengers would be willing to
share their biometric information if it allowed them to avoid repeatedly
presenting passports or boarding passes at airport checkpoints. Among those
willing to use biometrics, 75% preferred to register their information in
advance so they could be automatically recognised throughout their journey.
Interest in digital passports is similarly strong. Some 84%
of respondents expressed interest in using a digital passport for online
check-in instead of a physical document. Meanwhile, 82% were interested in
sharing a digital passport with an airline at the booking stage, after payment,
to receive more personalised services, including information about visa
requirements.
The same proportion expressed interest in using a smartphone
that combines a digital wallet, digital passport and loyalty cards to manage
bookings, payments and airport procedures on departure and arrival.
However, concerns about privacy and data security remain
significant. Data breaches were the leading concern, cited by 59% of
respondents, followed by the possibility of information being shared with other
organisations, at 49%, and uncertainty about how personal information is
handled, at 41%.
Careen said governments must establish a framework for
issuing and accepting secure digital passports, also known as Digital Travel
Credentials, to make biometric identification a standard feature of
international travel.
AI becomes a travel planning tool
AI is also playing an increasingly prominent role in how
passengers research and organise their trips, with 49% of respondents saying
they had used AI for travel planning.
Searching for flights to a specific destination was the most
common application, cited by 21% of passengers. Another 19% had used AI to find
the cheapest flights, while 17% had turned to the technology for inspiration
about where to travel.
The findings suggest that airlines will need to adapt their
digital strategies as travellers increasingly rely on AI-powered tools to
discover destinations, compare fares and identify suitable flights.
Careen said airlines must ensure their offerings are visible
through AI platforms and develop convenient ways for users to turn AI-generated
recommendations into actual bookings.
Immigration requirements increasingly deter travel
Despite growing enthusiasm for digital travel services,
immigration procedures are emerging as a significant obstacle. The proportion
of passengers who said entry requirements had discouraged them from visiting a
destination rose to 43% in 2026, up from 33% in 2025.
Among passengers deterred by immigration requirements, 53%
identified complexity as the main reason. Privacy concerns and cost were each
cited by 17%.
Geopolitical conflict was another factor influencing travel
decisions. Among passengers discouraged from visiting destinations because of
such conflicts, 72% cited safety concerns, while 13% pointed to uncertainty
over whether travel was possible.
Respondents showed strong support for faster, more
convenient and increasingly digital immigration processes. Some 86% said they
would be likely to share immigration information digitally before departure, up
from 83% in 2025. Meanwhile, 45% preferred to complete immigration procedures
before reaching the airport, compared with 41% a year earlier.
Online visa applications were also the preferred option for
60% of respondents, while 25% favoured applying in person at a consulate or
embassy.
IATA said electronic visas could help streamline the
process, but inconsistent verification standards across countries remain a
challenge. Although more than 100 countries issue eVisas, greater international
coordination is needed to enable airlines to verify them efficiently.
Regional differences shape adoption
The survey also identified significant regional differences
in passenger satisfaction and technology adoption.
Travellers in the Asia-Pacific region reported the
highest overall satisfaction, while the Middle East recorded the
strongest interest in digital passports and biometric identification. Middle
Eastern passengers were also the most likely to use AI for travel planning, and
satisfaction among biometric users was highest in the region.
North America recorded the highest use of biometrics
but also the strongest concerns about data breaches and the handling of
personal information. Passengers in the region were the least likely to have
been deterred from travelling by immigration requirements.
In Europe, overall passenger satisfaction was the
lowest among the regions surveyed. European travellers were also more cautious
about digital travel technologies, with AI and biometric use below the global
average.
Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the
second-highest overall satisfaction and the largest improvement compared with
2025. Travellers in the region showed strong support for submitting immigration
information digitally and completing procedures before arriving at the airport.
However, concerns about personal data sharing and handling were the highest of
any region.
In Africa, travellers reported high satisfaction but
were the most likely to have been discouraged from visiting destinations by
immigration requirements. Complexity, followed by cost, was the leading
concern. Although biometric adoption remained relatively low, interest in
digital travel solutions was among the strongest globally.
Governments urged to simplify travel
The findings point to a growing expectation that technology
should make international travel faster, simpler and more personalised.
However, IATA's results suggest that technological progress alone will not
eliminate barriers created by complicated immigration systems and inconsistent
entry procedures.
Greater coordination among governments, airlines and
technology providers will be needed to establish common standards for digital
passports, biometric identification and electronic visas.
IATA said simplifying entry requirements and enabling secure digital information-sharing could improve passenger experiences while supporting more efficient and secure border processes. -TradeArabia News Service