Biometrics and digital passports: European travellers are the most cautious about new technologies
IATA's research for 2026. It shows a strong interest in simpler journeys, but also concern for personal data. Artificial intelligence is already involved in trip planning for almost half of respondents.
European passengers are willing to accept digital passports and biometric identification, but they are more cautious than passengers in other parts of the world. According to IATA's 2026 Global Passenger Survey, 70 per cent would agree to share biometric data for a smoother airport experience. The global average is 78 per cent.
A similar difference exists for digital passports. Seventy-nine per cent of European respondents are interested in using them for online check-in, compared with 84 per cent globally. European caution should therefore not be interpreted as a rejection of technology: it still represents the vast majority of interested travellers.
The research, the results of which IATA published on 28 October, is based on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries.
A faster passage through the airport comes at the cost of trust.
Biometric identification is becoming a common part of travel. Over the past 12 months, 58 per cent of respondents have encountered it, whereas in 2022 that share was 34 per cent.
However, the willingness to use technology is accompanied by concerns about how data is processed. Globally, 59 per cent of respondents are worried about the possibility of a data security breach, 49 per cent about its sharing with other organisations, and 41 per cent about information that is not clear enough on how personal data is handled.
This provides airlines and airports with an important guideline: alongside the promise of shorter queues, they must clearly explain which data they collect, why they need it and how they protect it.
Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice-President for Operations, Safety and Security, emphasises that the wider adoption of digital passports requires governments to agree on their secure issuance and acceptance. Passengers' interest alone is not sufficient for their universal use.
AI is entering planning, but Europe is lagging behind the average.
49 per cent of respondents worldwide used artificial intelligence for travel planning. In Europe, this share is significantly lower at 35 per cent, while in the Middle East it reaches 72 per cent.
AI travellers most often use it for specific tasks. Twenty-one per cent of respondents searched for flights to a particular destination in this way, nineteen per cent for the cheapest flights, and seventeen per cent for inspiration for their next trip.
For airlines, this raises the question of how to guide a user from a conversation with an AI tool to an actual booking. Careen warns that the offer must be visible in those tools, with a straightforward path to purchase.
For travel agencies, a potential business opportunity lies in reviewing and refining such initial proposals: from the availability and terms of a fare to the feasibility of an itinerary. The fact that AI was used does not mean that respondents actually booked their trip through it.
Complex entry requirements can be decisive when choosing a destination.
While technology simplifies part of the journey, administrative requirements still deter travellers. Entry requirements for a country have discouraged 43 per cent of respondents from visiting a destination, compared with 33 per cent in the 2025 survey. In Europe, that share is 38 per cent.
Among those who have been put off travelling by such requirements, 53 per cent cite the complexity of the procedure. Costs and privacy are cited by 17 per cent each.
Travellers are showing an interest in completing formalities earlier: 86 per cent would likely submit the required information digitally before departure to speed up procedures, and 60 per cent prefer to apply for a visa online.
