SITA has released its findings of the 2024 Air Transport IT Insights survey conducted with airport operators worldwide. According to SITA, “The report of the survey reveals how airlines and airports are increasing investment in cybersecurity, biometrics, and sustainable IT solutions”, the African aviation sector inclusive.
According to Mr. Selim Bouri, President for Middle East & Africa (MEA), SITA: “Passenger management and processing takes center stage for MEA airports, with 76% prioritizing it over cybersecurity. Investment in passenger processing systems is also the top IT focus (78% vs 63% globally). However, financing remains a significant challenge, with 37% citing it as a barrier to IT projects (vs 14% globally). AI adoption in MEA lags behind other regions, with 74% of airports not yet using AI (vs 26% globally).”
The MEA President further explained that: “Without smart investments in reliable and innovative technology, airports risk staying stuck and becoming inefficient, uncompetitive, and unable to meet the growing needs of travelers and airlines. That doesn’t just mean longer wait times and frustration, it also hits their bottom line, cutting into revenue from retail and other services that keep airports thriving.”
Overall, SITA reports that “one clear area of focus for the industry is cybersecurity. The report reveals that 66% of airlines and 73% of airports mention it as one of their top three areas of focus.” This confirms how important it’s becoming to protect critical systems and passenger data as cyber threats get more advanced. According to SITA, “About half of airlines and three-quarters of airports are starting their digital transformation by upgrading IT infrastructure, moving to the cloud, and safeguarding data. Meanwhile, biometrics and AI are enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency making it the natural next step.”
David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said: “This year’s findings highlight a pivotal moment for the aviation industry. As cyber threats become more complex, airlines and airports are taking decisive action to protect their operations and passengers. At the same time, biometrics and AI tech are simplifying the travel experience, helping the industry meet growing demand, and build resilience for the future. It’s clear that the air transport industry is going through a transformation, and these numbers prove it.”
On the area of transforming passenger processing using Biometric tech Lavorel said: “The air transport industry generates massive amounts of data, but a lot of it doesn’t get used or is only looked at on the surface. With AI and machine learning, we can dig deep into this data, meaning we can take large steps in improving key areas such as efficiency, sustainability, security and cost. It also improves the passenger experience. With AI and data analytics, the industry is shifting to a new era of travel tech.”
On sustainability, SITA reports that compared to 2023, “62% of airlines are working with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) suppliers and a big leap forward in sustainability compared to last year.” SITA also notes that airports are also taking action, “with 54% of them (compared to 29% in 2023) having already implemented energy management systems to track and reduce emissions. In previous reports, it was revealed that 81% of airports planned to implement this tech by 2026 and they’re making steady progress.”
