…As 84% prefer digital passport

Complex immigration and visa requirements have discouraged 43 per cent of air travellers from visiting certain destinations, a survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.

The association also revealed that 84 per cent of global air travellers were interested in using a digital passport for online check-in instead of their physical passport.

IATA in its 2026 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), convened physically and virtually yesterday in Macao, China, said that the 43 per cent complex barriers imposed on travellers by immigration was an increase from 33 per cent recorded in 2025.

IATA at the conference, said the complexity of entry procedures remained the leading reason travellers abandoned plans to visit particular destinations.

According to the survey, 53 per cent of passengers discouraged by immigration requirements cited complicated processes as their primary concern, while 17 per cent each identified privacy concerns and the cost of obtaining entry documents.

The findings showed the growing disconnect between passengers’ demand for seamless international travel and the administrative hurdles they encounter when crossing borders.

Speaking at the conference, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, Nick Careen, urged governments to simplify entry requirements, eliminate duplicate checks and accelerate the issuance and acceptance of secure digital travel credentials.

He added that governments needed to adopt measures that would make international travel more convenient without compromising security.

The survey also found that passengers increasingly favour digital solutions to immigration procedures, with 86 per cent willing to share immigration information electronically before departure to speed up processing, compared with 83 per cent in 2025.

Also, 45 per cent of respondents preferred completing immigration procedures before arriving at the airport, up from 41 per cent the previous year.

On visa applications, 60 per cent preferred applying online, while 25 per cent favoured visiting a consulate or embassy in person, according to IATA.

Careen said electronic visas could help address passengers’ concerns, but noted that inconsistencies in verification procedures across countries continued to create difficulties for airlines.

Careen said: “Passengers are embracing technology to make travel easier. AI is becoming a mainstream travel planning tool, while biometrics and digital identity are creating a faster and more seamless airport experience. Yet many travellers continue to face barriers from complex immigration and visa processes.

“More than 100 countries issue eVisas, yet there is little consistency in how they are checked. The tools to fix that already exist, and governments should adopt them.”

Interest in digital passports was similarly strong. About 84 per cent of respondents expressed interest in using digital passports for online check-in instead of physical documents.

Besides, another 82 per cent passengers were interested in sharing digital passports with airlines after payment at the booking stage to obtain personalised services, including information about visa requirements.

The same proportion expressed interest in using smartphones that combine digital wallets, digital passports and loyalty cards to book flights, make payments and navigate airport procedures on departure and arrival.

Despite the enthusiasm, concerns about data protection remained a major challenge to wider adoption.

Also, IATA revealed growing acceptance of biometric identification among passengers as they seek faster and more convenient airport experiences.

It found that 58 per cent of travellers had experienced biometric identification at some point during their airport journey in the preceding 12 months, up from 50 per cent in 2025 and 24 percentage points above the 2022 level.

Satisfaction with the technology also increased, with 87 per cent of passengers who had used biometrics expressing satisfaction, compared with 86 per cent in 2025.

The survey further showed that 78 per cent of respondents would be willing to provide their biometric information if it meant avoiding repeated presentation of their passports or boarding passes at airport checkpoints.

Among those willing to use the technology, 75 per cent preferred registering their information once in advance to enable automatic recognition throughout their airport journey.

The survey found that 59 per cent of respondents were concerned about data breaches, 49 per cent worried about their information being shared with other organisations, while 41 per cent wanted greater clarity on how their personal information was handled.

Careen said increased adoption of biometric identification could improve passenger convenience while strengthening the efficiency and security of airport and border procedures.

He called on governments to establish a framework for issuing and accepting secure digital passports, also known as Digital Travel Credentials.