Disruption is aviation’s most expensive unsolved problem, costing airlines tens of billions of dollars every year.

To address this, SITA has acquired Big Blue Analytics, the team behind OCC Assistant Manager (OCCam), and will scale the platform to airlines worldwide as the foundation of a broader Intelligent Operations Control Center vision.

OCCam is an AI-enabled disruption optimization platform, developed and proven within live airline operations.

When disruption hits, it evaluates every active constraint together – aircraft, crew, passenger itineraries, maintenance – and produces a single, coherent recovery plan in minutes. In production, airlines using OCCam have cut disruption costs up to 30%. The starting point, not the ceiling.

Solving disruption is genuinely hard. Aircraft, crew, passengers and maintenance all have to be optimized together, under constant change, against airline priorities that shift by the hour. For years, no system has done this well enough to deliver consistent, feasible outcomes fast enough.

Most tools today work in sequence. Reassign the aircraft. Find legal crew. Rebook passengers. Every step creates rework, and small problems cascade. Controllers and duty managers carry that pressure in real time, making the right call fast, in a system that is already stretched.

This drives cost. For a mid-size carrier operating just over 100 aircraft, disruption costs can reach between US$70M-$80M. A 25-30% reduction translates into US$20M-$30M. Yet most systems cannot deliver these savings, and they cannot prove them.

OCCam solves both problems. First, it breaks the sequential decision-making process. Teams rapidly receive ranked, feasible recovery plans that optimise aircraft, crew and passengers together, with a clear view of cost, on-time performance, passenger impact and compliance. Second, it makes the impact measurable. Every decision is tracked, allowing airlines to quantify savings, evaluate operational performance and demonstrate a clear return from day one.

“Airlines have traditionally treated disruption as a fixed cost of doing business, but there is a clear opportunity to approach it differently. In an increasingly volatile and fast-moving environment, the ability to recover with the same agility becomes critical. The airlines that act on this first will recover faster, fly more, and protect more revenue than those that wait, and AI-enabled tools like OCCam are making that possible,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA.

SITA already delivers solutions such as SITA Mission Watch to more than 100 Operations Control Centers worldwide, helping airlines monitor and optimize their operations.

It has also demonstrated its ability to scale AI-enabled products in airline operations. Following the successful global rollout of SITA OptiFlight, the same approach will now bring OCCam to airlines worldwide.

SITA has been developing the next layer of AI in airline operations, including large language models and agent-based systems. With Big Blue Analytics’ optimization engine as the foundation, SITA can now build systems that predict disruptions earlier, automate routine recovery, and allow teams to interact with complex operations in a simple, natural way.

“This is the first step towards a much bigger Intelligent Operations Control Center vision, one where planning, monitoring, and recovery come together in a single system. AI allows us to handle multiple constraints at once and tailor decisions to each airline in a way that was not possible before,” said Yann Cabaret, CEO, SITA for Aircraft.

“With SITA, we can take what we have built further. Reaching more airlines, faster, and turning advanced optimization into practical tools that help operations teams work smarter every day,” added Pau Collellmir, founder of Big Blue Analytics.

By combining Apple technology with SITA’s global aviation infrastructure, the partnership helps airlines act earlier and gives travelers clearer visibility of their luggage during the busiest travel period of the year.

Passengers using an Apple AirTag or a Find My network accessory can use Share Item Location to temporarily and securely share their bag’s location with their airline through SITA WorldTracer.

This creates a direct link between the Find My location and airline recovery systems, an approach that has shown a clear impact in its first year.

SITA’s analysis shows that, while most bags are successfully returned to the passenger, a small percentage are never recovered and become ‘truly lost.’

For bags with an AirTag or Find My network accessory, the number of truly lost bags decreased by 90 percent when location sharing is enabled through WorldTracer.

This improvement gives passengers a far higher chance of being reunited with their bags and reduces costly write-offs for airlines.

“This year has shown the power of working together,” said Nicole Hogg, Portfolio Director, Baggage at SITA. “When consumer technology and aviation infrastructure are connected in the right way, the results can be transformative. Travelers feel more confident, airlines make better decisions earlier, and the entire recovery process becomes more predictable. This is exactly the kind of shared innovation that moves the industry forward.”

Airlines using Find My Share Item Location have also seen a 26 percent reduction in recovery time of delayed bags, meaning more are returned to passengers sooner.

Adoption continues to grow, with 29 airlines now using the Apple Find My integration in WorldTracer as part of their baggage recovery processes, with more airlines expected to adopt it in the coming months.

The latest SITA Baggage IT Insights report provides important context. Global mishandling rates remain low at 6.3 bags per thousand passengers, and 66 percent of mishandled bags are reunited with their owners within 48 hours thanks to better data sharing and automation. The Apple and SITA collaboration builds on this foundation by adding dynamically-updating, passenger-authorized location data to recovery workflows, supporting faster decisions and fewer unresolved cases.

This combined approach becomes even more valuable during holiday peaks when tight connections, winter weather, and heavy transfer volumes can put additional pressure on baggage systems.

By uniting consumer visibility and airline operations, the Apple and SITA collaboration creates a more connected, predictable experience for travelers at the moment they need it most.

“The first year of this collaboration is also telling us something important about the wider market,” added Hogg. “Airlines everywhere are looking for ways to manage rising passenger volumes without adding complexity. What we are seeing with Find My Share Item Location is that when passengers choose to share high-quality location data, airlines gain a level of clarity that was not available before. This is helping reduce lost baggage, speed up recovery, and support more resilient operations at a moment when the industry needs it most.”

WorldTracer is deployed at more than 2,800 airports and used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers worldwide.

With Apple’s Find My Share Item Location now integrated, the system connects aviation-grade infrastructure with secure consumer technology, helping deliver a smoother and more reliable baggage experience.

As global travel continues to grow, the first year of enabling Find My Share Item Location in SITA WorldTracer highlights how meaningful partnership can deliver results at scale, benefiting airlines, passengers, and the wider aviation ecosystem

At the same time, destinations like Ethiopia are rapidly emerging as hubs for tourism, investment, and trade, raising the stakes for national carriers to leave a lasting positive impression on travelers.

To meet these challenges head-on, Ethiopian Airlines and SITA have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop innovative solutions that strengthen the airline’s operations and enhance the passenger experience.

The collaboration will tap into startups, technology providers, business accelerators, and industry partners to identify key challenges and create fresh, forward-looking solutions tailored to the airline’s needs.

“Ethiopia is realizing its ambition to become a sophisticated, dynamic destination for investment, trade, and tourism. Ethiopian Airlines plays a central role in making that vision a reality,” said Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO. “Creating the best first and last impressions for business and leisure travelers is crucial, and this partnership puts us in the best position to deliver exceptional experiences while taking full advantage of the opportunities ahead.”

“Africa is experiencing unprecedented growth in air travel just as passengers’ expectations are being reshaped by rapid advances in digital technology,” said Selim Bouri, President, Middle East & Africa, SITA. “Hubs like Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport need to provide a frictionless passenger journey so airlines can optimize flight schedules and deliver smooth, memorable trips. This collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines and SITA is all about driving the innovation needed to meet these demands and help shape the future of African aviation.”

With the launch of SITA Managed Satellites, airports around the world can now maintain vital communication at all times, even during blackouts, natural disasters, or in the most remote or infrastructure-limited locations.

The fully managed service is now available in over 130 countries, offering primary, secondary, and emergency connectivity options tailored specifically for the air transport industry.

It takes advantage of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver secure, high-bandwidth, low-latency communications that keep airport systems running continuously. This is also the case when other networks are struggling or completely offline.

SITA Managed Satellites doesn’t only support regular networks that are in high demand. Recent global events have shown just how vulnerable traditional fiber and terrestrial networks can be. From earthquakes to extreme weather and fiber cuts, many airports, large and small, have experienced partial or complete outages.

Even in major hubs, network congestion during peak periods can strain bandwidth and disrupt key services. SITA’s new satellite solution addresses these risks directly, giving airport and airline teams a way to keep operations running when it matters most.

SITA Managed Satellites provides a fast, cost-effective way to deploy connectivity wherever it’s needed, including off-airport locations, aircraft maintenance hangars, cargo hubs, and even remote sites without existing digital infrastructure.

It also unlocks temporary service for new route openings, seasonal operations, or rapid emergency deployments. This makes sure that ground crews and systems are never out of touch.

“The quality and availability of the latest satellite technology means that it’s becoming a vital component within high availability networks. Airports, in particular, need new ways to ensure they can maintain critical operations in whatever circumstances they face – even when adverse incidents strike,” said Martin Smillie, Senior Vice President, Communications and Data Exchange at SITA. “Delivering high-speed internet connectivity via established satellite providers, SITA Managed Satellites allows customers to optimize operational performance. SITA Managed Satellites is an innovative solution to keep all parts of the aviation industry connected to vital platforms – even in the most challenging of times – and can be adapted for other transport sectors and markets also. It delivers a blend of availability and cost-effectiveness to optimize investments in any cloud, on-premises or hybrid computing environment.”

SITA’s global team provides 24/7 monitoring, installation, maintenance, and support. The solution also integrates with other SITA connectivity services, offering customers a flexible, bundled approach to network resilience.

Key features include:

• A secure, aviation-specific satellite service that meets industry regulations
• Full lifecycle management and support in over 130 countries
• Proactive infrastructure monitoring to resolve issues before they impact operations
• Optional bundling with other SITA airport connectivity solutions
• Expert on-site support for surveys, setup, ongoing maintenance, and hardware replacement

With aviation more reliant than ever on uninterrupted digital operations, SITA Managed Satellites gives customers the confidence and tools they need to keep critical systems live, even in the most unpredictable conditions.

As part of this modernization, EgyptAir has selected advanced connectivity and infrastructure solutions from SITA, the global leader in air transport technology.

This strategic modernization equips EgyptAir with scalable, cloud-native connectivity to meet growing bandwidth, security, and automation demands.

With SITA Connect Go, the airline will further strengthen its core infrastructure with secure airport connectivity, infrastructure protection, Secure Service Edge (SSE) management, and enhanced messaging and service assurance.

EgyptAir’s operations will also benefit from SITA’s Community Departure Control System (DCS), which will help streamline ground processes, driving cost efficiency across its network.

Together, these improvements will help EGYPTAIR reduce reliance on aging legacy systems, increase network visibility, and mitigate operational risks.

Capt. Ahmed Adel, chairman & CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company, and Selim Bouri, President Middle East and Africa at SITA, attended a signing ceremony of the strategic agreement.

The agreement was signed in Cairo by Eng. Yasser Omran, Head of the Information Sector at EGYPTAIR Holding Company, and Houssam Dakroub, Director, North & French speaking Africa at SITA.

“Airlines across the Middle East and Africa are facing a period of rapid change,” said Selim Bouri, President, Middle East & Africa at SITA. “Passenger demand is surging, airports are getting busier, and the pressure to operate more efficiently, securely, and sustainably has never been greater. Against this backdrop, EgyptAir is making a bold move to transform its network infrastructure, giving the airline the speed, resilience, and agility it needs to keep pace with market growth and rising traveler expectations. By embracing next-generation connectivity, EgyptAir is future-proofing its operations and strengthening its ability to compete in an increasingly dynamic regional aviation landscape.”

 This agreement is a continuation of the development journey of the Egyptian civil aviation sector and strengthens its competitiveness as a pivotal regional center for aviation, IT, and digital services.

The airline’s focus on adopting the latest smart solutions, will contribute to strengthening performance efficiency and improving the passenger experience at Egyptian airports.

The partnership is expected to bring a significant transformation in the company’s communication systems, enabling it to continue its growth plans at the regional and international levels, thanks to SITA’s extensive experience in digital services, with its information network extending to more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.

The initiative also strengthens EGYPTAIR’s position as a regional aviation hub and aligns with the Egyptian civil aviation sector’s development goals.

Captain Ahmed Adel, chairman & CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company, added:

“This partnership with SITA is a cornerstone of our digital transformation strategy. By adopting cutting-edge solutions, we are enhancing our communication systems to support growth in tourism and travel, ensuring operational excellence and a superior passenger experience.”

While this project is not the first of its kind for SITA globally, it underscores the company’s commitment to supporting leading airlines like EgyptAir in transforming their operations and preparing for long-term growth.

That’s the dilemma facing under-resourced airports and border control officers. Eight billion airline passengers taking off, landing and being funnelled through constrained immigration and customs control points by 2043. Airports facing a capacity shortfall of 1.5 billion by 2040. An aviation industry workforce gap of 1.6 million people looming by 2030.

At the same time, pressure is mounting on governments to counter emerging security threats, terrorism, human trafficking, and global health threats.

How do you do more, with less?

One solution is to build bigger and bigger infrastructure projects or throw more money and resources into the pot to prop up outdated traditional systems. The other is to join the global uptake of digital borders.

Since the tentative early days of 1998 – a pivotal year in which Malaysia introduced the first electronic passport and SITA developed the world’s inaugural Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system – the world has woken up to the value, efficiency and security imperative of digital border management.

Driving this digital uptake is the traveler. Having tasted the seamless, secure and safe digital travel journey, people want more. The 2024 IATA Global Passenger Survey tells us that 73% of passengers would prefer to use biometric data to board and go through passport control. Of those surveyed, nearly half had used biometrics at the airport in 2024 and 45% expressed a desire to complete immigration procedures before arriving at the airport.

That’s not all. A new breed of traveler is also pushing hard for the widespread rollout of global digital travel systems.

The 30- to 40-something Millennials and the 20-something Generation Zers both embrace digital solutions and online booking methods. They prioritize convenience and efficiency. And they spend at a scale that surpasses previous generations.

Keeping all travelers – and particularly these travel-hungry younger generations – happy is a trend no government, airline or airport can afford to ignore.

Choose your IT partner wisely

Enabling digital travel systems is just the beginning. Digital borders are just one important element of a world-wide technological trend that includes digital identities, biometric authentication, seamless data exchange and risk assessments powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

Right now, every corner of the world is embracing digital transformation. If you doubt this for a moment, just consider that between 2004 and 2028 some 5.6 trillion biometric digital identity transactions will take place around the world, bringing in around US$315 billion in revenue while simultaneously helping to improve efficiencies, ramp up fraud protection, enhance the customer experience, and streamline regulatory compliance.

Driven by passenger demand, digital wallets, digital identities, and online loyalty programs are all becoming the norm as companies and governments seize every opportunity to innovate across the unfolding digital border journey.

As this ecosystem grows, partnering with a global leader in border management solutions is not a nice-to-have, it’s an imperative.

To truly export a sovereign border back to the point of check-in necessitated leveraging Interactive Advance Passenger Information (iAPI) that equips border officials with detailed passenger information prior to departure, building in valuable time to address any red flags efficiently behind the scenes.

The level of real-time risk assessment which iAPI data enables simply cannot be achieved using yesterday’s technology or border systems.

Why traditional borders are falling behind

Fortunately, many governments now see how technologies can be incorporated to complement existing physical processes and checkpoints which alone cannot meet the demands of sophisticated travelers and the high-volume airline industry.

The forward-thinking Caribbean island of Aruba is a great example. Aruba has adopted emerging standards for transformational international travel that embrace digital solutions and platforms. Aruba recognized the value – financially and in terms of both security and goodwill – of more streamlined pre-boarding clearances and at-border processing. Other nations are also waking up to this potential, although many are still battling to grasp that a digital border is not just about digitizing existing physical processes, it’s an entire mindset shift.

A digital border moves the parameters of existing border management right back to the time of booking a ticket, and the moment when a passenger applies for digital pre-clearance in the form of an eVisa, traditional entry visa or ETA.

A digital border process affords airlines and governments time to cross-check passenger details and conduct security checks, reduce workloads, and making the entire process smarter, faster, and more secure. For travelers this translates into a more enjoyable and hassle-free experience, alongside convenient additions such as luggage storage in many airports and major train stations.

No longer a trend, but a clear flight path

Borders are evolving. That’s a fact. It’s not just regions like the United States, the Antipodeans or the European Union that see digital transformation as a means of enhancing competitiveness, transparency and efficiency. Emerging nations across Africa, Latin America and Asia increasingly recognize the power of digital borders to leapfrog them into global contention. After all, digital borders help:

• Check passenger data
• Streamline airport and border activities
• Optimize border agent activities
• Combat trans-national crime
• Control migratory flows
• Assist with risk prevention
• Attract and promote tourism
• Boost trade and economic development

Back in 1998 taking those first bold steps towards enabling a digital border was visionary, today it’s a non-negotiable evolution to ensure the future global competitiveness of countries, airlines and airports.

To achieve that sort of transformation, you need a partner like SITA, who understands that digital solutions don’t have to be overwhelming and that you can think big, even if you’re starting small.

The move will reshape the entire aviation industry, creating the world’s most powerful passenger portfolio for airports and digital travel.

It brings to life SITA’s vision to reinvent travel and transport, boosting the company’s leadership in passenger processing, as part of a fast-growth strategy for the years ahead.

With air traffic set to double by 2040, airports and airlines must deliver smoother passenger experiences. SITA’s acquisition is a vital part of its focus on innovation and reinventing travel to meet pressing industry demands for increased terminal capacities and best-in-class secure solutions leading to easy travel for all passengers.

It’ll offer the industry a unique opportunity to transform airports from simple transit hubs to digital, personalized experiences​ for travelers across the world. This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.

Materna IPS’s portfolio allows airports to process more passengers and optimize resources to give travelers a better experience.

They are market leaders in Self-Bag Drop, with a customer base spanning North America, India, Europe, and Japan.

Materna IPS offers best-in-class secure solutions for all passenger touchpoints, from check-in to baggage claim and boarding.

SITA leads the world in passenger self-service solutions at the airport. By acquiring Materna IPS, Self-Bag Drop market leader, they’re taking their leadership to another level. Especially as airports transform digitally and the market accelerates towards Self-Bag Drop. SITA and Materna IPS’s solutions complement each other in a powerful way. Following the acquisition, SITA will be the undisputed leader in terms of end-to-end solution at airports.

“This is an exciting new era of travel! SITA’s biggest acquisition ever is about to change the landscape of the whole aviation industry,” said David Lavorel, SITA CEO. “By combining our solutions and expertise we’ll take the passenger journey, and the operations around it, to a dimension of efficiency never seen before. Airports and airlines will get the most innovative passenger handling solutions available. Passengers all over the world can look forward to a new horizon in smooth, seamless, and contactless travel.”

He added:

“We’re on a powerful transformation path. This acquisition fits perfectly with our growth strategy. We wanted to take a bold step towards transforming the future of travel, and we’ve done it. We can’t wait to set off on this new journey with our colleagues at Materna IPS and reshape the future of travel together.”

Dr. Georg Oschmann, CEO at Materna IPS, added:

“As we embark on this exciting journey with SITA, we see boundless potential for growth and development. This strategic move is an ideal fit with our commitment to innovation and excellence. Together, we’ll create unparalleled value in our industry and beyond, using our combined strengths to drive meaningful progress and more opportunity for everyone.”

This integration will build on Materna IPS’s common use check-in solutions at kiosks, counters or online – multiple options for user-friendly self-bag drop, and more.

This will make a powerful combination with SITA’s portfolio of solutions, including biometrics, computer vision, digital travel, and airport operations management.

In 1930, there were only around 6 000 passengers travelling by air. By 1934, this had risen to just under 500,000.

Fast-forward to 2019 and it had exploded to 4 billion travelers. In fact the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects 8 billion air travelers annually by 2040.

The demand for air-travel is booming.

To prepare for this, 425 major construction projects (worth around US$450 billion) were already put underway at existing global airports.

The industry also invested in 225 new airport projects in 2022, according to the Center for Aviation. Bricks and mortar infrastructure is only part of the solution though.

Without state-of-the-art, adaptable digital solutions, airlines and airports will struggle to manage passenger numbers. This will affect the quality of the travel experience they’re able to deliver.”

SITA’s Biometrics White Paper, ‘Face the Future’ highlights how the surge in air traveler numbers places extraordinary pressure on existing and new airports, national borders, and airline resources. In short, “existing paper-based and manual travel infrastructure and legacy processes simply won’t be able to cope”.

The solution, explains SITA, is in harnessing the power of facial and fingerprint biometrics to create a smoother, safer, and slicker air transport experience.

By applying advanced technological solutions SITA will also solve other industry challenges, like space constraints, specialist staff shortages, and evolving passenger wants and needs.

The white paper takes us behind the scenes by showcasing successful case studies like the Star Alliance Biometric initiative and the Indian government’s DigiYatra program.

Both cases use the end-to-end biometric passenger processing solution SITA Smart Path.

Stefan Schaffner, VP of Airports at SITA, explains:

“SITA Smart Path biometrically enables every step of the passenger journey, from mobile enrollment to aircraft boarding and every point in between and beyond. With facial recognition across as many airport touch points as you need, it lets passengers manage their identity across their whole journey, in a unique and touchless way. The final result is a radically improved travel experience.”

The white paper goes on to outline more solutions using advanced biometrics technology. These include SITA Flex, a common-use passenger processing platform, and SITA Border Management, which covers border control, risk intelligence, and travel authorization.

Both solutions are well recognized in the industry today and used by more than 40 airports globally. The white paper also breaks down SITA’s Digital Travel Credentials (DTC) solution, a hotly anticipated verifiable digital identity shared before arrival (with the passenger’s consent) for seamless border crossing.

As a member of both the IATA’s One ID initiative and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s DTC, SITA is leading the way in rolling out border-grade DTCs.

They’re also helping define rigorous standards around passenger identity management within biometrics. An exciting example is how SITA DTCs were used to create Aruba’s Happy One Pass, a collaboration which lets passengers arriving at the Caribbean island nation of Aruba “can now disembark at international arrivals and cross the border without stopping or even showing a travel document”.

The future of air-travel is clearly outlined in the white paper – one that’s safe, ethical, and fully embraces biometrics. It emphasizes the need to prioritize privacy, flexibility, and adaptability.

The white paper’s release, along with its case studies and insights, reveals that the future of travel isn’t some distant concept anymore. It’s happening now.

The global demand for travel is rising, and biometrics is at the forefront of this transformation.

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The investment in Indicio, the global market leader in decentralized identity technology, cements a long-standing partnership which is accelerating the development and deployment of trusted digital identities for travel.

This investment also highlights SITA’s strategic commitment to invest in companies that help SITA accelerate the digitalization of the air transport industry.

Jeremy Springall, senior vice president borders, SITA, said: “Digital identity is the biggest catalyst for change in air transport in more than a decade. The emergence of digital identities means we can fundamentally rethink today’s complex passenger journey to make it easier, faster, and connected with the wider travel ecosystem. It will simplify the identification process at every step and open up opportunities for the air transport industry to fully embrace the benefits of seamless travel and the digital economy. Our investment in Indicio reinforces our partnership in leading the market with this technology.”

The development of digital identities allows passengers to securely create a digital version of their physical passport called a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The DTC is stored as a verifiable credential in the passenger’s mobile wallet alongside their airline digital ID.

Using SITA’s trust network, SITA and Indicio have uniquely enabled travel documents such as visas, boarding passes and frequent flyer accounts to be added to a passenger’s digital identity.

This means travelers can keep control of their personal data with only required passenger data shared before travel, making it possible to cross the border before you fly. This unique trust network will enable seamless digital processes using verified identity and data to digitally transform identity checks and border control, creating seamless travel across commercial aviation, maritime, and land travel and transportation, events, and hospitality.

Heather Dahl, Co-Founder and chief executive officer of Indicio, said: “The success of our work with SITA bringing digital identity and the trust network to life has shown that the sky is not the limit. We are transforming every part of our collective digital journey by adding the kind of trust that has previously been elusive and is blocking the evolution of the digital economy. When you can be sure of the source and integrity of any data, you can rearrange the world to make it a much better and better-functioning place. Trust has always been the bedrock of prosperity and growth. With SITA as a partner, this is the kind of digital transformation we are talking about, where trust in verified data enables everything.”

What You Should Know About SITA

• SITA is the air transport industry’s IT provider, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. Our technology powers more seamless, safe and sustainable air travel.
• With around 2,500 customers, SITA’s solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to customers of 17,700 aircraft globally.
• SITA also provides technology solutions that help more than 70 governments strike the balance of secure borders and seamless travel. Our communications network connects every corner of the globe and we bridge 45% of the air transport community’s data exchange.
• In 2023, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved its near-term and long-term emission reduction targets.
• These science-based targets are pivotal in guiding the climate actions to curtail greenhouse gas emissions effectively.
• SITA is 100% owned by the industry and driven by its needs. It is one of the most internationally diverse companies, providing services in over 200 countries and territories.

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Airports also boosted IT spend as a percentage of revenue in 2022 and 2023 even as business benefitted from an uptick in travel demand, signalling just how crucial a role technology will play in the next-generation travel experience.

Aviation CIOs’ key investment priorities include a biometrically enabled passenger journey, leveraging data to unlock operational efficiencies, and green solutions to optimize energy consumption and emissions.

From a seamless passenger experience to optimized operations

Airlines and airports have made strides in optimizing the passenger experience, with over half having implemented IT to improve efficiency across check-in, bag tag, and boarding in 2023.

Biometrics are becoming commonplace to help curb congestion, with 70% of airlines expecting to have biometric ID management in place by 2026, and 90% of airports investing in major programs or R&D in this area.

CIOs are now looking to supplement passenger processing advancements with innovative solutions on the operations side.

To boost efficiency, protect operations against disruption, and streamline processes for both passengers and staff, CIOs are embracing IT solutions for business intelligence (BI), artificial intelligence, and data sharing.

BI is the biggest area of technology investment for airlines in the coming three years, with 73% investing in major programs.

Nearly two-thirds of airports and airlines collect and integrate data, and with the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), they are now looking to AI and machine learning to leverage this data and generate insights.

With most citing the “use of data to improve operational efficiency” as at least somewhat of a business challenge, it makes sense that 97% of airlines and 82% of airports are investing in AI by 2026.

David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said:

“As we approach a full recovery of passenger demand for air travel, with domestic travel even surpassing pre-pandemic levels in some regions, airlines and airports have learned from the congestion and disruptions seen in the past two years. Advanced data sharing and analytics tools will allow them to unite stakeholders and identify opportunities for greater efficiency and leaner operations. Solutions like total airport management and BI for passenger processing provide airports and airlines real-time insight into the management of assets and passenger flow, allowing for agile, collaborative responses to any disruptions.”

Smart IT to improve sustainability

Sustainability is also high on the agenda, with industry milestones for carbon reduction as well as regulations on emissions coming into view. CIOs are setting their sights on technology solutions that can deliver concrete emissions reductions.

By 2026, over 90% of airlines plan to have IT in place to boost the efficiency of flight operations and aircraft turnaround. More than half have implemented IT to optimize both aircraft taxiing and the takeoff/landing and cruise phases of flights, with nearly all expecting to have this in place by 2026.

On the airport side, building and energy management systems are a key priority for offering a unified view of emissions and opportunities to reduce them. Investment in energy management systems* is expected to grow the most of any airport sustainability initiative, with over half of airports planning this by 2026.

“With industry ambitions to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 in mind, airlines and airports are taking necessary steps towards reducing their carbon footprint, adopting digital tools for accurate monitoring and optimization of energy consumption and emissions,” Lavorel added.

The SITA 2023 Air Transport IT Insights research was conducted from August to November 2023. It represents the views of over 250 senior airline and airport executives, covering a quarter of global passenger traffic.