According to Nick Careen, Vice President of Operations, Security, and Protection at IATA, passengers seek flexibility, transparency, speed, and comfort when planning and booking their trips. He pointed out that the current trend shows that more and more people are turning to biometric identification and digital wallets, as well as more efficient processes outside the airport.
Careen highlighted that 89 percent of respondents are willing to share passport and visa data, while 73 percent are open to using biometric systems instead of physical documents like passports and boarding passes.
According to the IATA survey, 68 percent of travelers choose an airport for its proximity, 33 percent prioritize reducing travel time, and 25 percent value lower prices. It is noteworthy that 71 percent of passengers prefer to book their flights online or through mobile apps, while only 16 percent prefer human interaction for this process.
Regarding boarding times, 70 percent of respondents expect to reach the gate in 30 minutes or less when traveling with only carry-on luggage, and 74 percent wish to not exceed 45 minutes if they have checked bags. In this regard, young people under 25 show a greater willingness to adopt new technologies, with 51 percent preferring digital wallets as a form of payment.
For Careen, it is clear that travelers want to board more smoothly thanks to smarter technologies and processes, even before arriving at the airport.