IATA passenger survey: 58% have used biometrics at airports, but entry rules deter 43% of travellers

More passengers are using biometrics at airports and planning trips with artificial intelligence, but immigration requirements are putting a growing share of travellers off some destinations, according to the 2026 Global Passenger Survey published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Macao on 28 October 2026. The survey drew over 10,000 responses from more than 200 countries.

IATA says 58% of passengers experienced biometrics at some point in their airport journey in the past 12 months, up from 50% in 2025, and 87% of those users were satisfied. 78% would share biometric information to avoid showing a passport or boarding pass at checkpoints, and 84% are interested in using a digital passport for online check-in. The main concerns are data breaches (59%), information being shared with other organisations (49%) and unclear handling of personal information (41%). 49% of travellers have used AI to plan a trip, most often to search for flights to a specific destination.

The finding that matters most for people planning a journey concerns entry rules: 43% say immigration requirements have discouraged them from visiting a destination, up from 33% in 2025, and 53% of those put off say the process is too complex. 60% prefer to apply for a visa online, against 25% who prefer to apply in person at a consulate or embassy. In Europe, satisfaction stood at 84%, the lowest of any region, and 47% of respondents had used biometrics.

Nick Careen, IATA's Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, called on governments to simplify entry requirements and to issue and accept secure digital travel credentials. The survey describes passenger attitudes; it does not change any entry rule, and travellers should still check the documents required for their destination with the relevant authorities before booking.