32.4 million flights are projected for this year. These are the tech tradeoffs travelers are willing to make to go hassle-free

Picture this: You walk into the airport with your smartphone and seamlessly board your flight without the hassle of removing shoes or juggling passports. Everything you need—your digital ID, boarding pass, and bag tags—is right there in your phone, making the entire trip hassle-free.

This isn’t a futuristic dream; it’s happening now. These technologies are currently being tested and implemented at airports across North America and the world. With 32.4 million flights projected to fly this year worldwide, time and money are of the essence.

Passengers want a modern travel experience similar to what they enjoy in other areas of their lives, like entertainment and retail—touchless, seamless, and hassle-free. But so much of the current airport experience is a relic of times gone by.

It’s 2024, and too many people are still dealing with paper immigration forms and travel documents, vanishing luggage, and long passenger queues. Antiquated technology systems and bureaucratic red tape are contributing to the logjam and desperately need refreshing. In the U.S., the problem was highlighted by last January’s 90-minute suspension of air traffic due to outdated IT and a century-old flight safety-notice system still used by the Federal Aviation Authority.

With travel demand pushing record highs, investment in technology and passenger experience is vital. Before the pandemic, people were more skeptical of volunteering personal information and connecting personal devices to airport, airline, and government apps. But now, airports, airlines, and government agencies are the ones that need to catch up with passengers’ expectations. People are more comfortable giving up data for convenience and efficiency.

That said, addressing concerns about data privacy and governance remain crucial—cybersecurity is critical in a security-sensitive world like aviation. But data privacy and progress can and often do work hand-in-hand.

Accelerating the use of transformative technologies like biometrics, digital identification, and AI requires a bold, forward-thinking approach from federal departments and agencies willing to break free from legacy systems and embrace the future. In the case of private-sector airports like Toronto Pearson, where I work, it also necessitates strategic investments in technology, talent, and digital infrastructure to enhance the travel experience for smartphone-toting passengers and everyone else.

Within the industry, seamless data sharing is imperative. Airports, airlines, and government agencies must collaborate with secure real-time information to optimize resource allocation and enhance the travel experience. Any bottlenecks in the chain can lead to more of the unnecessary delays and disruptions routinely making headline news.

The economic implications of lagging behind in this tech race are significant, and costly. An inefficient aviation system hampers tourism, business travel and foreign investment. Making hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport as efficient as possible is essential for the entire system, as international and domestic connections hinge on smooth operations and minimal delays.

Biometrics and data sharing are necessary to remain competitive and enhance security and efficiency for all travelers. The potential benefits are substantial, from reducing wait times to improving resource allocation. We’ve seen firsthand from travelers—here at Toronto Pearson, millions of southbound Canadian passengers routinely entrust their biometric data to the U.S. CBP, reaping the rewards of facial biometric matching and near-instantaneous processing.

The statistics are staggering: 200 million travelers processed, over 1,600 impostors thwarted, and an astounding 98-percent accuracy rate achieved, as of last year. These numbers resoundingly demonstrate the global potential of this transformative system.

Embracing these advancements will not only future-proof our aviation system but also ensure a more seamless and enjoyable travel experience for all.

In this digital age, the equation has changed. Privacy and progress don’t have to be at odds. Together, they can create a more efficient and secure travel experience. If we collectively acknowledge this shift and invest in the right technologies, airports have the opportunity to lead the way in defining the future of air travel.

It’s time to embrace innovation in the way we need and the way travelers expect—efficient, convenient, and secure. The first step is simply to embrace the fact that people are willing to make significant data and privacy trade-offs for better travel.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91016235/32-4-million-flights-projected-2024-tech-tradeoffs-travelers-hassle-free?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss