The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 Global Passenger Survey, highlighting travelers’ continued emphasis on convenience and speed in their travel experiences, especially at the airport.

Notably, most respondents preferred using digital wallets and biometric identification and desired to complete various travel processes before arriving at the airport.

The results show passengers prioritize factors such as proximity to the airport and rapid airport processing, with many willing to share immigration data and participate in trusted traveler programs to speed up their journey.

The survey also revealed trends among different age groups and regional travelers. Younger travelers, particularly those under 25, showed a strong inclination towards using technology for travel, with a high percentage planning to utilize digital wallets and biometric solutions. However, IATA said, passenger preferences vary globally, with African travelers often depending on travel agents and Asia-Pacific travelers seeming more price-conscious. Based on IATA’s questions, North American travelers highly accepted biometric identification for airport processes. Overall, IATA found that the findings underscore the aviation industry’s need to enhance customer-centric services through technology and streamlined processes.

Critical Highlights for Travel Agents:

Planning and Booking: 68% said proximity to the airport was their top priority when selecting a departure airport, followed by minimizing travel time (33%) and getting the best ticket price (25%).

Payment: North American passengers overwhelmingly, and more than any other region, prefer to pay for their flights with debit or credit cards. They are the most frequent users of loyalty points for payment.

Digital Wallet Preferences: 71% of travelers now book online or via mobile apps, especially young travelers, with a growing acceptance of digital wallets for payment. 32% said they want all their information stored in one place.

Biometric Usage: 46% of travelers experienced airport processes using biometrics, with 75% preferring this method over traditional travel documents. Nearly all survey participants in North America were interested in providing data in advance for ‘lighter’ security checks at the airport.

Convenience Focus: 70% want to reach their boarding gate within 30 minutes, and many (89%) are willing to share immigration data to speed up processes.

Regional Variations: African travelers rely more on travel agents, while Asia-Pacific travelers prioritize low prices; North Americans favor convenient payment methods and biometric processes.

Younger Traveler Insights: Those under 25 are significantly more proactive in adopting digital solutions for their travel, emphasizing the importance of data security.