Investment is no longer the issue
Implementation is now focused on breaking down silos. Forty‑six percent of airlines are upgrading flight operations systems so that information is consistent and available in real time across flight, crew, aircraft and passenger systems. Sixty‑three percent already use artificial intelligence in operations control to manage disruption, aircraft assignment and crew availability, while 79% name generative AI and large language models as their top investment priority over the next 12 months. For most airports (71%), cybersecurity is the leading technology focus. Meanwhile, 64% of airlines plan to issue their own digital credentials, up from 32% in 2024, and biometric border control is live at 54% of airports and could reach 83% by 2028.
The numbers point to strong intent to capitalise on new technology. However, SITA cautions that poorly coordinated data remains a brake on results. According to IATA, flight delays alone account for $30 billion of industry revenue, and 49% of airlines identify data integration and consistency as the primary barrier. The investment is there, but outcomes will remain constrained until systems and partners share a sufficiently fluid information base. The same applies to environmental targets: fewer than 20% of operators have deployed total emissions tracking and airside carbon measurement, both of which require harmonised data across multiple parties.