IATA 2026 Global Passenger Survey: Biometrics and AI Adoption

IATA released the 2026 Global Passenger Survey on October 28, 2026, based on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries. The survey shows that 58% of passengers experienced biometrics at airports in the past 12 months, up from 50% in 2025, with satisfaction with biometrics reaching 87%. 49% of passengers have used AI to plan travel, of which 21% used it to search for flights to a specific destination. Entry requirements became a travel obstacle: 43% of passengers abandoned a destination due to entry requirements, up from 33% in 2025, of which 53% considered the process too complex.