by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Thu October 26, 2023
Speed and convenience are the biggest priorities for air travelers, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2023 Global Passenger Survey.
This is true across all air travel processes, from planning and purchasing to security checkpoints and more, and travelers are increasingly eager to see changes that encourage speedier, more convenient air travel.
The survey suggests that digital online visas, biometrics in security checkpoints and more streamlined airport processes, like baggage claim.
Visas & Airport Processes
So many travelers heading to a different country struggle with difficult visa requirements. Convenient, digital online visa processes are necessary across the globe. In fact, 36 percent of travelers chose not to go to a destination because of tricky immigration requirements.
Sixty-six percent of travelers want to be able to obtain a visa online before traveling, while 87 percent of travelers would share their information to speed up the airport arrival process.
Travelers heading to the airport want faster everything. Seventy-four percent desire to go from the curb to the boarding gate with a carry-on bag in only 30 minutes. Ninety-one percent of travelers are interested in an expedited security screening program (like the United States’ TSA PreCheck program) for trusted travelers.
The way travelers are thinking about their bags is changing, too. Home pick-ups and deliveries are desired by 67 percent of travelers, while 77 percent said they’d be more likely to check a bag if they could tag it and check it in before they arrive at the airport. A greater 87 percent desire bag tracking, with 57 percent of travelers already using their own tracking devices to keep an eye on their bags.
The Rise in Biometrics
In the past year, 46 percent of travelers have used biometrics at the airport, up from 34 percent in 2022. The number for those who’d prefer to use biometric data over passports and boarding passes is 75 percent, a vast majority.
Data protection is a huge concern for travelers, but 40 percent of them would be more open to using biometrics if they knew their personal information was secure.
IATA has created a One ID initiative that is working to streamline airport processes using biometric data. Travelers can obtain all necessary pre-travel authorizations directly from governments digitally before they even arrive at the airport, bypassing all on-airport document verifications.
“We have the standards and technology to radically improve the international travel experience. But we can only move at the pace that governments allow within their regulations. That’s why a top priority in realizing seamless One ID enabled travel is working with governments to demonstrate that border control can be more secure even while making passenger travel more convenient,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.
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