IATA released global passenger data for September 2026: total demand measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) fell 0.5% year-on-year, total capacity (ASK) fell 0.2%, and the load factor was 83.2%, down 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.
Why recommended:IATA's global passenger demand turned negative year-on-year in September; the regional divergence data can serve as a reference for corporate travel budgets and route negotiations.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published a report calling for a fairer division of responsibility and costs between governments and airlines when passengers are refused entry. Based on a survey of 49 airlines and 22 border management authorities, the report notes that 40 of the 49 airlines encountered cases where immigration authorities did not state the reason for refusal of entry, and that in more than 90% of cases airlines paid part of the costs that should have been borne by governments, with per-person costs ranging from about USD 4,000 in North Asia to about USD 14,000 in Europe.
Why recommended:Based on a survey of 49 airlines and 22 border inspection agencies, IATA quantified the mismatch in responsibility and costs for passengers refused entry, which can help travel procurement assess compliance and operational risks.
IATA released the 2026 Global Passenger Survey: 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; 43% of passengers abandoned a destination due to entry requirements, up from 33% in 2025, of which 53% considered the process too complex. The survey is based on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries.
Why recommended:The IATA 2026 Global Passenger Survey shows that biometric usage and entry-requirement obstacles are rising in tandem, which can be used to assess the room for advancing airport processes and visa digitalization.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Air New Zealand and Hong Kong International Airport are among the first organizations to receive One ID certification, with the certification presented at the IATA World Passenger Symposium held in Macau. The certification confirms that the organizations meet IATA global standards in digital identity and biometric applications, covering four categories of activities: digital entry eligibility, contactless travel, biometric processing, and privacy, consent and governance.
Why recommended:IATA has launched One ID certification and announced the first certified organizations, allowing readers to learn about the progress in standardization of digital identity in airport clearance processes.
IATA data shows that in 2025 global airlines will incur $24.5 billion in payment costs on $1.05 trillion in sales, up 10.4% from 2023, higher than the 7.7% increase in sales over the same period. The average cost per transaction is $5 per passenger, of which payment fees of $20.7 billion account for 84.5%, and the average card payment rate is 2.53%. IATA is promoting payment efficiency improvements through IATA Pay, IFG and a new corporate travel payment solution.
Why recommended:IATA data reveals that payment costs are growing faster than sales, and provides specific comparisons of card payment rates and alternative payment solutions.
IATA and OneVasco announced that OneVasco's visa concierge service will be integrated into IATA's Timatic Solutions, allowing travelers to apply for visas directly after checking entry requirements on Timatic.
Why recommended:The source discloses the specific manner in which the visa service is integrated into Timatic, allowing readers to judge changes in the visa step's connection within business travel booking.
IATA, Airbus and Accenture released a market study on SAF Environmental Attribute Certificates (EAc), estimating that corporate procurement could support 1 million to 1.9 million tonnes of SAF by 2030, up from about 323,000 tonnes in 2024.
Why recommended:IATA, Airbus and Accenture jointly estimated the potential corporate demand for SAF and listed three categories of obstacles constraining corporate participation.
At the International Aviation Sustainability Symposium, IATA announced that ICAO has joined the CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units Supply Support Alliance, which brings together more than 80 CORSIA-related parties and is committed to addressing eligible emissions unit supply bottlenecks and avoiding double counting.
Why recommended:IATA published data on the CORSIA eligible emissions unit supply gap, based on which readers can assess procurement and compliance pressure ahead of the 2027 compliance cycle.
ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA announced the formation of the Responsible Biometric Travel Industry Alliance, calling on EU policymakers to support voluntary, secure use of biometrics by passengers in the Digital Omnibus, while preserving non-biometric alternatives and privacy protections.
Why recommended:The alliance was initiated by five organizations, and its demands are presented alongside IATA passenger survey data, allowing observation of the direction in which EU digital rules constrain biometric boarding pathways.
ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA announced on October 1 the formation of the Responsible Biometric Travel Industry Alliance, calling on EU policymakers to ensure the Digital Omnibus supports voluntary and secure use of biometrics in travel, while protecting traveler choice and privacy.
Why recommended:The original text provides the alliance's membership composition, demands and IATA survey data, on which readers can base a judgment of the potential impact of EU digital rules on biometric boarding processes.
IATA released global passenger demand data for August 2026. Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), fell 0.8% year-on-year; excluding the Middle East, it grew 0.6%. Total capacity (ASK) rose 0.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1%, down 0.9 percentage points year-on-year; Middle East carriers' demand fell 14.6% year-on-year, interrupting the previous improving trend.
Why recommended:IATA's August data show Middle East carriers' demand fell 14.6% year-on-year, dragging global RPK into negative territory, which can be used to observe regional divergence and October capacity arrangements.