IATA Global Passenger Survey 2026: Biometrics, AI and Immigration Shape Future of Travel

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified three major trends influencing passenger behavior in 2026:

Key Findings
- Growing adoption of biometric technology and digital passports
- Increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) for travel planning
- Rising concerns over complex immigration and visa requirements

Biometrics Going Mainstream
- 58% of passengers used biometric technology during their airport journey in the past year, up from 50% in 2025.
- 87% of users reported satisfaction with biometric processes.
- 78% are willing to share biometric data if it helps avoid repeated passport and boarding pass checks.
- 75% prefer a one-time biometric registration for seamless airport travel.

Strong Interest in Digital Passports
- 84% would like to use a digital passport for online check-in.
- 82% are willing to share a digital passport with airlines after booking for personalized services.
- 82% support using a smartphone-based travel ecosystem combining digital passport, payment and loyalty features.

Privacy Remains a Concern
- Top concerns regarding biometric adoption include:
- Data breaches (59%)
- Sharing information with other organizations (49%)
- Lack of transparency on data handling (41%)

AI Transforming Travel Planning
- 49% of travellers have used AI tools to plan trips.
- Most common uses include:
- Searching for flights to specific destinations (21%)
- Finding the cheapest fares (19%)
- Discovering travel inspiration (17%)

Immigration Rules Remain a Travel Barrier
- 43% of passengers said immigration requirements discouraged them from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025.
- Among those affected:
- 53% cited excessive complexity
- 17% cited privacy concerns
- 17% cited costs

Growing Demand for Digital Immigration Processes
- 86% are willing to submit immigration information digitally before departure.
- 45% prefer completing immigration procedures before reaching the airport.
- 60% want visa applications to be processed online, compared to 25% who prefer embassy or consulate visits.

Regional Highlights
Africa
- Overall satisfaction: 89%
- Most discouraged by immigration requirements (52%).
- Strong interest in digital travel solutions despite lower biometric adoption.

Asia-Pacific
- Highest overall passenger satisfaction at 90%.
- Strong adoption of biometrics and digital travel services.
- Immigration complexity remains a key concern.

Europe
- Lowest satisfaction level (84%).
- Most cautious regarding AI, biometrics and digital passports.
- Lowest willingness to adopt digital travel technologies.

North America
- Highest biometric usage (63%).
- Greatest concern about data breaches and sharing of personal information.
- Least affected by immigration barriers (35%).

Latin America & Caribbean
- Second-highest satisfaction levels.
- Largest year-on-year improvement in satisfaction.
- Strong support for digital immigration processing.

Middle East
- Highest AI adoption (72%).
- Highest willingness to use biometrics (84%) and digital passports (91%).
- Highest satisfaction among biometric users.

Industry Perspective
- According to Nick Careen, Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security at IATA, passengers increasingly want faster, digital and seamless travel experiences. However, governments need to simplify visa and immigration processes, adopt digital travel credentials and implement common standards for digital identity verification to unlock the full benefits of contactless travel.

Key Takeaway
- The 2026 survey shows that passengers are rapidly embracing biometrics, digital identities and AI-powered travel planning, while increasingly expecting governments to modernize visa and immigration processes. The future of air travel is becoming more digital, personalized and contactless, provided privacy and security concerns are effectively addressed.