More travelers than ever are using their mobile devices and biometric technology during each step of the air travel journey, according to a new survey.
A global passenger survey from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that 78 percent of passengers want to use a smartphone to book and pay for flights, as well as to navigate airport checkpoints.
Among the preferred uses for smartphones in air travel, 19 percent of passengers said they prefer using airline mobile apps for booking a flight, 28 percent said they use a digital wallet for paying for travel, and 35 percent said they use a mobile device for generating baggage tags during check-in. All of those metrics increased in 2025 compared to 2024.
“Passengers want to manage their travel the same way they manage many other aspects of their lives—on their smartphones and using digital ID,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president operations, safety and security. “As experience grows with digital processes from booking to baggage claim, the message that travelers are sending in this year’s [global passenger survey] is clear: they like it, and they want more of it.”
Biometric technology is also rapidly expanding at airports worldwide, according to the survey, which noted that “biometric use has risen by nearly 20 percentage points since 2022.” IATA says that half of passengers used biometrics at some point in their journey this year, with a whopping 85 percent reporting that they were happy with the experience.
Travelers seem willing to use biometric technology in order to make the airport experience more convenient: 74 percent of travelers said they’d share biometric information instead of showing a passport or boarding pass at airport checkpoints, including check-in, security, border control, and boarding.
Passengers who are concerned about privacy or sharing their personal data should know that the use of biometric technology like facial recognition remains optional at airports in the U.S. for citizens and residents. Travelers can tell the TSA officer, gate agent, or border control personnel that they would like to opt out of facial recognition, and they will be accommodated without losing their place in line.
But the expansion of biometric technology shows no signs of slowing down. Earlier this week, for instance, Emirates debuted sweeping new biometrics checkpoints at Dubai International Airport (DXB) that eliminate the need to show a passport or boarding pass at check-in, immigration, lounges, or boarding gates.
Passengers can also expect more digital identification technology on the horizon. “To make the international travel experience fully digital, governments need to start issuing digital passports and enable their secure recognition across borders,” said Careen. “When that becomes common practice, travelers, governments, and airlines will all see the benefits of digital identity with an experience that is even more convenient, efficient, and secure."
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