Air travel soars in 2023 as industry embraces digital and sustainable future

In 2023, air travel witnessed a significant surge, exceeding industry expectations and setting the stage for continued growth in the coming decades. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that global passenger numbers could reach 8 billion by 2040. As the industry prepares for this rapid expansion, ensuring a seamless and efficient passenger experience is becoming increasingly critical.

The latest findings from SITA’s 2024 Passenger IT Insights report reveal that travellers are embracing technology as a key component of their journey. Mobile-enabled Digital Travel has become a popular choice among passengers, who now routinely use their smartphones to manage various aspects of their travel experience, including booking, airport dwell time, and baggage collection.

A significant development highlighted by the report is the growing comfort among passengers with the idea of storing their passports on their mobile devices through secure Digital Travel Credentials. Three out of four passengers surveyed indicated that they would be comfortable sharing these credentials in advance to expedite their journey, underscoring the potential of digital identities in shaping the future of travel.

One of the most desired improvements by passengers is reducing airport queue times, with 64% identifying it as a priority. While biometric technology has shown promise in speeding up passenger processing, privacy concerns persist. Despite this, passengers reported a relatively high level of comfort with biometrics, rating it 6.7 out of 10 on average. This suggests a need for the industry to further educate and reassure travelers about the robust data security measures in place for biometric systems.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said: “The appetite from passengers is clear: they’re eager to embrace the latest digital solutions to make their experience swifter and more streamlined than ever before. The responsibility falls to the industry to ensure travelers are fully informed of the advanced data security and privacy-preserving potential of biometrics.”

Sustainability also remains a top priority for many passengers. The report shows that travellers are willing to make sacrifices to reduce their environmental impact, such as paying an average of 11% more on ticket prices to offset carbon emissions. Additionally, over half of the respondents expressed a willingness to take longer flights at slower speeds or carry lighter baggage to decrease their carbon footprint.

The insights from SITA’s survey, which included over 7,000 passengers across 25 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, reflect a global readiness for the integration of technology and sustainability into the future of air travel. As the industry continues to innovate, it will need to balance the rapid adoption of digital solutions with the ongoing concerns and priorities of passengers worldwide.