Nearly six in ten air passengers went through biometric checks at an airport in the past year, and almost half used AI to plan a trip, according to IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey, released October 28. At the same time, 43% say immigration requirements have kept them from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- 58% of passengers used biometrics at the airport in the past 12 months, up from 50% in 2025.
- 84% of travelers are interested in using a digital passport for online check-in.
- 49% have used AI for travel planning, and searching for flights is the leading use at 21%.
- Immigration requirements discouraged 43% of passengers from visiting a destination, and 53% of them blamed complex processes.
- North America leads in biometric use at 63%, while Europe trails every other region at 47%.
- Data breaches are the top concern about biometrics, cited by 59% of passengers.
Biometrics Reach 58% Of Air Travelers Worldwide
The International Air Transport Association, which represents over 370 airlines carrying about 85% of global air traffic, based its 2026 survey on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries. The results show biometrics moving from pilot programs into everyday travel. In the past year, 58% of passengers used facial or other biometric checks somewhere in their airport journey. That is up from 50% in 2025 and 24 percentage points above 2022.
Travelers who use biometrics tend to like them. Satisfaction among biometric users reached 87%. Overall, 78% say they would share biometric data if it meant skipping passport and boarding pass checks at checkpoints. Among those willing travelers, 75% would rather register once in advance and be recognized automatically through the airport. “More passengers are experiencing biometrics during their travels. They like it and want more,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.
Digital Passports Draw Strong Interest, With Privacy Conditions
Interest in digital passports is high across every measure IATA tracked. 84% of passengers want to use a digital passport for online check-in, and 82% would share one with an airline at booking if it brought personalized services such as visa guidance. Another 82% are interested in a single smartphone wallet that combines a digital passport, payment, and loyalty cards to move through departure and arrival.
That interest depends on trust. Passengers’ leading biometric concerns are data breaches (59%), personal information being shared with other organizations (49%), and unclear handling of their data (41%). For airlines and airports, the message is that convenience alone will not drive adoption. Transparency about where biometric data goes matters as much as the technology itself.
AI Becomes A Travel Planning Tool For Half Of Passengers
The 2026 survey shows AI moving into the trip-planning stage. Almost half of travelers (49%) have used AI to plan travel. The leading use is searching for flights to a specific destination (21%), followed by finding the cheapest fares (19%) and getting ideas for where to go (17%). IATA’s guidance to airlines is practical: make sure their flights appear in AI answers, and build easy ways to turn an AI conversation into a real booking.
Entry Requirements Now Discourage 43% Of Travelers
The survey’s warning sign is at the border. Immigration requirements discouraged 43% of passengers from visiting a destination, a 10-point jump from 2025. Among those deterred, 53% said the process was too complex, while privacy and cost were each cited by 17%.
Passengers know what they want instead. 86% would share immigration information digitally before departure to speed up processing, and 45% would prefer to finish immigration steps before reaching the airport. When applying for a visa, 60% prefer to do it online, compared with 25% who would rather visit a consulate or embassy. More than 100 countries now issue eVisas, but IATA says there is little consistency in how airlines check them.
Regional Gaps Shape The Pace Of Digital Travel
IATA’s regional data shows that readiness for digital travel varies widely. North America leads in biometric use at 63% but also reports the strongest concern about data breaches. European travelers are the cautious outlier: they report the lowest satisfaction of any region at 84% and trail on biometric use (47%), AI use (35%), and interest in digital passports (79%).
The Middle East sits at the other end of the scale. Travelers there lead in AI use for planning (72%) and interest in digital passports (91%). African travelers face the steepest entry barriers, with 52% discouraged by immigration requirements. African biometric use is among the lowest, at 49%, yet the region shows some of the strongest interest in digital travel tools. Asia-Pacific travelers report the top overall satisfaction at 90%, tied with the Middle East, alongside 61% biometric use.
Governments Hold The Key To Seamless Travel
The survey points to a gap between what travelers want and what border systems allow. Passengers are ready for biometric boarding, digital passports, and online visas, and airlines are investing in the tools. What is missing is agreement among governments. IATA is calling on states to agree on a framework for issuing and accepting secure digital passports, which it calls Digital Travel Credentials, and to use common standards for verifying eVisas. On the eVisa problem, Careen said, “The tools to fix that already exist, and governments should adopt them.”
For travelers, that means the airport experience will keep improving unevenly. A passenger may board by face scan in one country and wait in a paper visa line in the next. How quickly governments align their rules will decide whether that 43% deterrence figure starts to fall in 2027.
FAQs
What Is The IATA Global Passenger Survey?
The Global Passenger Survey is an annual study by the International Air Transport Association on travelers’ experiences and expectations. The 2026 edition is based on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries.
How Many Air Travelers Use Biometrics At Airports?
According to IATA’s 2026 survey, 58% of passengers used biometrics at some point in their airport journey in the past 12 months, up from 50% in 2025. Satisfaction among those users reached 87%.
What Is A Digital Travel Credential?
IATA uses the term Digital Travel Credential for a secure digital passport that governments issue and accept. IATA says governments must agree on a shared framework for these credentials before biometric travel can become the norm internationally.
Why Are Travelers Discouraged By Entry Requirements?
Among passengers deterred by immigration rules, 53% say the process is too complex. Privacy and cost were each cited by 17%, and 60% of travelers say they would prefer to apply for visas online.
