IT Spend Forecast 2026

IT Spend Forecast 2026

63% of airports plan to increase IT spending.

Use of AI

Use of AI

60% use AI in passenger flow management.

Top Improvement

Top Improvement

44% cite airline cooperation as the top improvement needed to scale digital identity.

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

Airport IT trends. Explained.

The advantage of knowing

Airport performance isn’t about capacity anymore. It’s about coordination. Most airports are already full. Keeping things running comes down to real-time data and how well it’s used.

AI adds value by helping airports coordinate in real time and act earlier. It gives teams visibility on queues, delays, and congestion before they build. But it depends on data flowing across systems and partners.

Cyber risk in airports no longer sits in one system. Fragmented data and connected partners mean a problem in one area can affect many others. Keeping operations safe now depends on protecting data across the whole ecosystem.

Commercial performance in airports has shifted. Passenger numbers still matter, but insight matters more. Understanding how people move, dwell, and spend is what drives revenue now.

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 airport operations comes down to control and shared data. Airports can move faster where they manage both directly. Progress slows when it depends on coordination across many partners.

Explore the insights

Explore the insights