Micah Jonah, February 2, 2026
Airports worldwide are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to manage rising passenger numbers, enhance operational efficiency, as global air travel is projected to reach 10.2 billion passengers in 2026, a 3.9 percent increase from last year.
Data from the Airport Council International shows that airports are embedding AI across multiple workflows, including passenger flow management, baggage tracking, predictive maintenance, and cybersecurity. The technology is also improving both on-site and virtual passenger experiences.
AI-powered analytics help anticipate congestion at security checkpoints, immigration, and boarding gates, allowing airports to shift from reactive to predictive crowd management. Biometric processing and AI baggage optimization tools are gaining traction, enabling passengers to move through immigration without presenting physical passports and reducing luggage mishandling.
“Since 2017, AI’s capabilities have grown exponentially,” said Amad Malik, chief AI officer at the Airport AI Exchange. “Today, AI can do far more than ever imagined, but aviation’s adoption of it remains limited.”
Analysts note that while AI is enhancing automated check-ins, boarding, and personalized passenger services, the aviation industry’s reliance on decades-old legacy systems and its safety-focused regulatory framework have slowed innovation.
“Safety and regulation outweigh speed of innovation when people’s lives are at stake,” Malik added, highlighting why the sector has been slower to adopt advanced AI solutions despite rapid technological progress.
Experts say AI’s continued integration will be critical in handling future passenger growth efficiently while improving the travel experience.
