IATA: African travellers lag behind in biometric adoption

…As data concerns, visa hurdles persist

African travellers are the least likely of any region to adopt biometrics, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which released the results of its 2026 Global Passenger Survey (GPS) this week.

‎The survey points to data concerns as the main cause on adoption in Africa, even as African passengers show strong interest in digital travel tools and report some of the highest satisfaction levels in the world.

The survey identifies several concerns that continue to limit biometric use in the region including data breaches, information being shared with other organizations, a lack of clarity about how data is used, uncertainty about how long it will be stored, and doubts about whether it can be deleted. Despite this, African travellers show some of the strongest interest in digital travel solutions of any region and are among the most satisfied with their journeys. They are also the most likely to have been discouraged from visiting a destination by immigration requirements.

In the Asia-Pacific, travellers report the highest overall satisfaction as the region is second in its willingness to use biometrics, though concerns about data breaches remain strong. Immigration rules also deter travel there, particularly because of how complex the process is.

European travellers report the lowest overall satisfaction and are the most cautious about adopting digital travel technology. Their use of both artificial intelligence and biometrics falls below the global average, and they are less willing than travellers elsewhere to use biometrics and digital passports during booking and online check-in.

North American travellers make the heaviest use of biometrics but also express the strongest concern about data breaches. Worries about data being shared with other organizations, and about a lack of information on how data is handled, are higher than the survey average. North Americans are the least likely to have been put off a destination by immigration requirements.

‎Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the largest improvement in overall satisfaction compared with 2025, and its travellers rank as the second most satisfied globally. They are among the most likely to prefer finishing immigration procedures before reaching the airport and show a strong willingness to share immigration information digitally in advance. Biometric use in the region is below average, while concerns about how personal data is shared and handled are the highest of any region.

Middle Eastern travellers are the most likely to use AI for trip planning and show the strongest interest in digital passports and biometric identification. Satisfaction among those who have used biometrics is the highest of any region. Among travellers deterred by immigration requirements, cost is cited more often than elsewhere, although complexity remains the leading concern.