Skift
Justing Dawes
29 August 2024
Airports all over the U.S. (and the world) are investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize and expand.
It’s all meant to ease congestion and reduce wait times as air travel continues to grow.
The International Air Transport Association expects 7.8 billion air travel trips annually by 2040, double what it was before the pandemic — a major driver for airport expansions and modernization.
Airports are the top sector of the travel industry with plans to increase their tech investments 17% this year, as outlined by Skift’s 2024 State of Travel report. Overall, 91% of travel companies have planned “moderate to aggressive” tech investments this year, according to survey data from Amadeus.
One of the top tech upgrades for airports is security checkpoints. Many are adding tech for biometrics and upgrading tech for screening carry-on bags and passengers.
Another top investment is for checked baggage drop-off and handling — an area that airports and airlines historically have neglected, which can lead to nightmare scenarios for passengers.
Read on: Airports Are Spending Big on Tech Upgrades (skift.com)
