Air Transport IT Insights 2025: Airlines

63% of airlines now use AI in operations control.

49% cite data integration and consistency as a major barrier

83% have implemented fleet renewal.

63% of airlines now use AI in operations control.

49% cite data integration and consistency as a major barrier

83% have implemented fleet renewal.

% are based on weighted data so totals may not equal 100% due to rounding.

Airline trends. Explained.

Are airlines investing enough in IT to keep up with demand?

CIOs report spending at $36Bn, around 3.6% of revenue, a stable pattern since 2023. 72% of airlines increased IT spend in 2025, and most expect growth to continue in 2026. That mirrors wider airline industry technology trends.

Which investments actually speed up airline decision-making?

83% of airlines are prioritizing data-driven decision-making. 46% are upgrading flight operations systems. Aligning flight, crew, aircraft, and passenger systems is what lets airlines act fast under pressure. It’s central to airline digital transformation

Is AI a core part of the shift in airline operations?

Yes. Adoption has jumped from 28% training AI on their data in 2023, to 42% organizing data for AI in 2024. Today 83% use AI for operational decisions and passenger services, and 51% use it to predict delays and disruption. A clear signal of emerging trends in aviation industry.

Is digital identity ready to scale across the industry?

Not yet. Progress is real, but uneven. 64% plan to issue digital identity credentials, up from 32% in 2024, but scaling is constrained. Coordination with airports and regulators, not technology, is now the bottleneck.

Are airlines making real progress on sustainability?

Leaders are focused on actions they can take now. 83% are renewing fleets. 67% are sourcing SAF, up from 62% in 2024. practical steps shaping sustainable aviation technology

The advantage of knowing

In airline operations, reliability now has a direct impact on the bottom line. At full capacity, small delays spread fast. Costs go up, and everything slows down. That’s why keeping operations stable makes all the difference.

Data integration is what moves aviation forward. And what gets in the way. Airlines rely on many different systems, and when data doesn’t flow between them, decisions slow down. When it does, teams act faster. And operations stay under control.

AI in aviation is moving into operations. It’s now part of how decisions are made. It’s not just handling single tasks anymore. It brings together data from across systems, helping teams act in real time and make better calls.

Cybersecurity in aviation has shifted from protecting individual systems to safeguarding the entire network. Airline systems connect to airports, service providers, and partners. A problem in one area can affect many others. The focus is now on protecting all connected data, not just single systems.

Digital identity in aviation isn’t held back by tech. That’s already in place. The real challenge is coordination - getting airlines, airports, and authorities to use the same data consistently across the journey.

Sustainability in aviation comes from operational control and real-time data sharing. New aircraft help, but the real impact comes from using that data to optimize every flight.

From fragmented data to connected insights

The numbers that matter

Use of AI

Top Challenges

Fleet Renewal