The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the results of its 2026 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), based on more than 10,000 responses from more than 200 countries. Nearly six in ten passengers reported experiencing biometrics at least once in the past 12 months: 58% had done so, up from 50% in 2025 and 24 percentage points higher than in 2022, and 87% of those who experienced biometrics said they were happy with the experience. Interest in digital passports is also strong, with 84% interested in using a digital passport for online check-in instead of a physical passport, and 78% willing to share biometric information if it means skipping showing a passport or boarding pass at airport checkpoints.
Almost half of travelers, 49%, have used AI for travel planning, most commonly to search for flights to a specific destination (21%), find the cheapest flights (19%), or get inspiration for where to travel (17%). At the same time, entry requirements are a growing barrier: 43% of passengers said immigration requirements had discouraged them from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025, and among those deterred, 53% said the process was too complex. Asia-Pacific travelers reported the highest overall satisfaction at 90%, and were the second most willing of any region to use biometrics, while European travelers reported the lowest overall satisfaction at 84%.