European travellers are the most cautious about adopting digital travel technology, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2026 Global Passenger Survey, despite widespread interest worldwide in biometrics, digital passports and artificial intelligence.
The research found that 70% of European respondents would share biometric information for airport processes, below the global average of 78%. Willingness was highest among Middle Eastern travellers, at 84%, followed by African passengers at 82%.
Europeans were also the least enthusiastic about using digital passports for online check-in, although a substantial majority, 79%, expressed interest, compared with 84% globally. The findings highlight regional differences in passengers’ readiness to exchange personal information for greater convenience.
Published on 28 October, the survey draws on more than 10,000 responses from over 200 countries. European respondents reported lower use of both biometrics and AI than the global average, alongside the lowest overall satisfaction with air travel.
Just 35% of Europeans had used AI to plan travel, compared with 49% worldwide and 72% in the Middle East. Globally, 21% had used AI to search for flights to a particular destination, 19% to find cheaper fares and 17% for destination inspiration.
Privacy remained a concern. Across the survey, 59% cited fears about data breaches, while 49% worried about information being shared with other organisations. A further 41% highlighted uncertainty over how their personal information was handled.
Nevertheless, biometric use continued to expand: 58% of passengers worldwide had experienced it during the previous 12 months, compared with 34% in 2022.
Interest also extended beyond airport checkpoints. Some 82% would share a digital passport with an airline after paying for a booking to receive personalised services, including visa information.
Among passengers who had experienced biometrics, 87% were satisfied. IATA said governments needed an agreed framework for issuing and accepting secure digital travel credentials to support wider adoption.
“More passengers are experiencing biometrics during their travels. They like it and want more,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice-president for operations, safety and security.
Meanwhile, immigration requirements had discouraged 43% of respondents from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025. Among those deterred, 53% blamed complexity, while privacy and cost were each cited by 17%.
Passengers favoured earlier, digital processing: 86% were willing to submit immigration information electronically before departure, and 60% preferred applying for visas online. IATA urged governments to simplify procedures and adopt common standards for checking electronic visas.
