Passenger survey reveals Asia’s passengers most “price sensitive”; lead world in digital uptake

October 31st 2024

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Among the trends identified in the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2024 Global Passenger Survey was the preference of travelers for convenience, their ready acceptance of biometric technology and their willingness to complete some processes before they arrive at the airport. Read More » Asian travellers, in addition to their price sensitivity and rapid adoption of mobile apps and digital wallets to pay for travel, lead the world in the use of biometric technology at airports, although their satisfaction with the experience is the lowest among all regions. Complex visa requirements deter more travelers from Asia-Pacific than in most of the six regions worldwide IATA monitors. “Passengers want flexibility and transparency when planning and booking travel and speed and convenience at airports. More [of them] are embracing biometrics, digital wallets and off-airport processes to make that happen,” IATA senior vice president operations, safety and Security, Nick Careen, said.

Several industry leaders participate in fully digital real time regional flight

Leading Asian airlines, airports and industry partners have taken part in a Proof of Concept (PoC) trial with two passengers travelling between Tokyo and Hong Kong. Cathy Pacific, Hong Kong International Airport, Narita International Airport, Branchspace, Facephi,NEC,Neoke,Northern Block and SICPA said they have demonstrated the industry is ready to deliver a fully digital air travel experience. In the PoC process, two passengers using different digital wallets and travel credentials took round trips between Hong Kong and Tokyo. The test travellers carried digital wallets containing their digital passport, company ID and frequent flyer credentials to search for personalized offers, book a flight, obtain a visa, check their travel documentation, check-in and receive boarding passes. The travelers used biometric identification to manage in irport processes in a live environment without repeatedly showing their travel documents. The successful journey integrated seven verifiable credentials - ePassport copy, live biometric image, visa copy, company ID, frequent flyer membership, order and boarding pass – in two digital wallets and a trust registry to verify issuers. “A seamless fully digital travel experience powered by digital identity and biometrics has moved from theory to proven reality. The challenge is to make this more efficient travel experience available to all travelers,” IATA said.