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MENAFN- Mid-East Info) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the results of its 2026 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), highlighting three major trends in passenger behavior and expectations:
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Biometrics are becoming mainstream and interest in digital passports is growing: Passengers are embracing biometric identification to reduce repeated document checks and show strong interest in using digital passports for check-in and more personalized services at booking.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how passengers plan travel: From finding flights and comparing fares to discovering their next destination, passengers are making AI part of their travel planning.
Entry requirements are a growing barrier to travel: More passengers say immigration requirements have discouraged them from visiting a destination.
“Passengers are embracing technology to make travel easier. AI is becoming a mainstream travel planning tool, while biometrics and digital identity are creating a faster and more seamless airport experience. Yet many travelers continue to face barriers from complex immigration and visa processes. Governments can help by simplifying entry requirements, eliminating duplicate checks, and accelerating the issuance and acceptance of secure digital travel credentials,” said Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
Biometrics Move Mainstream as Interest in Digital Passports Grows:
Nearly six in ten passengers report experiencing biometrics at least once in the past 12 months, and satisfaction with biometrics has reached its highest level yet.
Over half of passengers (58%) report having experienced biometrics at some point in their airport journey in the past 12 months, up from 50% in 2025. Notably, this is up 24 percentage points from 2022.
Passengers who have experienced biometrics report high levels of satisfaction with 87% saying they are happy with the experience, up from 86% in 2025.
78% of travelers say they would be willing to share their biometric information if it means they can skip showing a passport or boarding pass at airport checkpoints.
Among these passengers, 75% prefer to register once in advance so they can be recognized automatically throughout the airport journey.
Passengers also show strong interest in using digital passports to simplify their journeys:
84% are interested in using a digital passport for online check-in instead of their physical passport.
82% are interested in sharing a digital passport with an airline at booking, after payment, if this enables more personalized services, such as information on visa requirements.
82% are interested in using a smartphone combining a digital wallet, digital passport, and loyalty cards to book, pay, and navigate airport processes on departure and arrival.
Retaining trust in biometrics remains essential to their adoption in travel processes. Passengers' leading concerns about biometrics are data breaches (59%), information being shared with other organizations (49%), and a lack of clarity about how their personal information is handled (41%).
“More passengers are experiencing biometrics during their travels. They like it and want more. That's good news because the benefits are substantial- smoother journeys for passengers and more efficient, secure processes for governments and airlines. To make biometrics the norm for international travel, governments must agree a framework for issuing and accepting secure digital passports-or Digital Travel Credentials,” said Careen.
AI is changing how passengers plan travel:
The GPS shows that almost half (49%) of travelers have used AI for travel planning. Specifically:
21% of passengers have used AI to search for flights to a specific destination, the most common use.
19% have used it to find the cheapest flights.
17% have used it to get inspiration for where to travel.
“People are using AI to plan their travel. It's important for airlines not only to ensure their offerings show up in AI, but also to develop convenient links to convert an AI conversation into a real booking,” said Careen.
Travel Barriers Are Rising as Immigration Rules Deter Passengers
The GPS shows that entry requirements are a growing barrier to travel, even as passengers embrace technology. Immigration requirements have discouraged 43% of passengers from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025.
Of the passengers discouraged from traveling to a particular destination by geopolitical conflict, 72% say safety was the main reason, while13% cite uncertainty over whether travel is possible.
Of the passengers put off by immigration requirements, 53% say the process is too complex. Privacy (17%) and cost (17%) were far less common.
Passengers also want visa processes to be faster, earlier in the travel process and digital:
86% are likely to share immigration information digitally before departure to speed up processes, up from 83% in 2025.
45% would prefer to complete immigration procedures before reaching the airport, up from 41% in 2025.
60% prefer to apply for a visa online, compared with 25% who prefer to apply in person at a consulate or embassy.
“Passengers want to apply for visas online and complete immigration procedures before they reach the airport. eVisas can deliver that, but airlines can only verify them efficiently if governments use common standards. More than 100 countries issue eVisas, yet there is little consistency in how they are checked. The tools to fix that already exist, and governments should adopt them,” said Careen.
Regional Trends:
Africa: African travelers are among the most satisfied. They are the most likely to have been discouraged from visiting a destination by immigration requirements. Complexity, followed by cost, is the main concern among those deterred by entry requirements. Biometric adoption is among the lowest across the regions, but interest in digital travel solutions is among the strongest of all regions.
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific travelers report the highest level of overall satisfaction. They are the second most willing of any region to use biometrics, although concerns about data breaches remain strong. Immigration requirements also discourage travel, particularly the complexity of the process.
Europe: European travelers report the lowest overall satisfaction. They are the most cautious region when it comes to adopting digital travel technology. Use of both AI and biometrics is below the global average, and European passengers are also less willing than those elsewhere to use biometrics and digital passports during booking and online check-in.
North America: North American travelers report the highest use of biometrics, but also the strongest concern about data breaches. Concerns about data being shared with other organizations and a lack of information about how it is handled are above the survey average. They are the least likely to have been discouraged from visiting a destination by immigration requirements.
Latin America & the Caribbean: Travelers from Latin America and the Caribbean are the second most satisfied globally, reporting the largest improvement in overall satisfaction compared with 2025. They are among the most likely to prefer completing immigration procedures before arriving at the airport and show a strong willingness to share immigration information digitally in advance. Biometric use is below average compared to other regions, while concerns about how personal data is shared and handled are the highest of any region.
Middle East: Middle East travelers are the most likely to use AI for travel planning and show the strongest interest in digital passports and biometric identification. Satisfaction among biometric users is also the highest across the regions. Among those discouraged from traveling by immigration requirements, cost is cited more often than elsewhere, although complexity remains the leading concern.
Source: IATA Global Passenger Survey 2026. All figures are shares of all respondents in each region. Changes are in percentage points versus 2025.
About the GPSGPS results are based on over 10,000 responses from more than 200 countries. The survey provides insight into what passengers would like from their air travel experience. Visit the Global Passenger Survey page to access the complete analysis.
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