Artificial intelligence is helping to plan travel whilst biometric tech is offering more personalised identification at security gates, reducing the repeated document checks for passengers. Retaining trust in biometrics is essential for their adoption in travel processes.
“More passengers are experiencing biometrics during their travels. They like it and want more. That’s good news because the benefits are substantial— smoother journeys for passengers and more efficient, secure processes for governments and airlines. To make biometrics the norm for international travel, governments must agree a framework for issuing and accepting secure digital passports—or Digital Travel Credentials”, says Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
IATA’s 2026 Global Passenger Survey also reveals that passengers face barriers to travel from complex immigration rules and procedures. Even as passengers embrace the technologies in the airport, the entry requirements have discouraged travellers from heading to a country with geopolitics and warfare for safety reasons.
Of the passengers put off by immigration requirements, 53% say the process is too complex. Privacy (17%) and cost (17%) were far less common.
86% of travellers are more likely to share immigration data digitally before departure to speed up visa admin earlier in the process.
“Passengers want to apply for visas online and complete immigration procedures before they reach the airport. eVisas can deliver that, but airlines can only verify them efficiently if governments use common standards. More than 100 countries issue eVisas, yet there is little consistency in how they are checked. The tools to fix that already exist, and governments should adopt them,” said Careen.
Identity Week Europe 2027 is scheduled to take place on June 15-16, 2027, at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
As one of the world’s leading conferences and exhibitions dedicated to the future of secure credentials, digital identity, biometrics, and fraud prevention, the event brings together thousands of industry stakeholders, government officials, and technology providers to discuss topics such as:
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Digital identity wallets and eIDAS 2.0 compliance
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Biometric verification for travel, border control, and enterprise access
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Document anti-counterfeiting, secure printing, and fraud mitigation
