The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has dropped its latest Global Passenger Survey (GPS), and while nothing in it is jaw-dropping, it does something arguably more important: it captures real traveler behavior at scale—and shows just how deeply technology is woven into the travel experience today. Pulling insights from more than 10,000 passengers across 200 countries, the GPS is one of the few industry reports that actually reflects “what travelers are feeling right now,” not what industry planners hope is true. IATA Global Passenger Survey 2025

And this year’s verdict is clear: smartphones, biometrics, and AI aren’t just helpful additions. They’re becoming the infrastructure of modern travel.

The rise of the smartphone as the essential travel companion

Smartphones have quietly become the most universally used travel accessory on the planet. With nearly 7.5 billion devices in circulation globally, the GPS confirms what other data sources like BankMyCell have also reported: 92.5% of travelers take their smartphone with them on leisure trips.

And honestly, how would they not? Today’s devices are so advanced that they’ve replaced entire bags of old travel essentials. Travelers now expect three capabilities above all:

Advanced photography and video

Phone makers have made travel photography a battleground for innovation, and travelers are voting with their taps. Lenses now rival 35 mm cameras, and video stabilization makes even airport dash footage look cinematic.

Always-on connectivity

Internet access abroad is no longer considered a bonus—it’s a baseline expectation. More smartphones ship with multi-band and eSIM compatibility, and satellite connectivity trials from global carriers point to a future where “no signal” becomes a quaint memory.

AI-powered discovery

This is the year AI became mainstream in travel planning. Travelers want fast, personalized itineraries, language help, dining suggestions, and live troubleshooting—and mobile devices are their gateway. Travel brands are responding by redesigning apps, mobile-optimizing booking funnels, and integrating AI chat layers.

If the first digital revolution was the rise of the internet, this second one is the rise of the mobile-only traveler.

Biometrics are finally becoming ‘normal’ for passengers

One of the most interesting findings in the new GPS is the rising comfort with—and preference for—biometric systems. Half of surveyed passengers encountered facial recognition or biometric checks in their recent journeys, up from 46% last year. Even more telling: 85% said they were satisfied with the experience.

Travelers are not just accepting biometrics; they’re supporting them. Three in four respondents said they were comfortable sharing biometric data if it speeds up airport processing.

And airports are responding fast:

• Singapore Changi, LAX, and Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson have rolled out biometric-enabled lanes for security and airline check-in.
• Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi is leading the “paper-free” movement with fully integrated biometric systems across check-in, boarding, and security.
• AI-backed surveillance and automated document checks are being deployed to create redundancy and improve security accuracy.

The reason for this shift is simple: travelers are tired of waiting in lines, and biometric processes are measurably faster. According to industry data from SITA and IATA, automated identity systems can reduce processing times by up to 30%—a margin that airports feel in terms of throughput and staffing.

A shift in how travelers pay—and what that means for industry players

One of the more under-the-radar datapoints in this year’s GPS is the quiet decline in credit and debit card usage while traveling. Mobile wallets and digital payments—Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Revolut, Wise, and other app-based systems—are capturing more of the transaction cycle.

This shift represents a major opportunity for emerging travel tech solutions. For example:

• TripReMIT, a payment technology built for travel merchants, now enables cryptocurrency acceptance and digital-first payment flows. With travelers leaning into mobile wallets, this type of infrastructure could help SMB travel businesses stay competitive.
• Trip-tracking and engagement apps like PokkeTTREK are emerging as valuable tools for both travelers and travel brands. The more travelers use their phones, the more opportunities exist for businesses to understand behavior and personalize offerings.

Digital payments are no longer a “nice-to-have” for operators. They’re becoming the default.

Traveling in a fully digital era

The travel industry has always been one of the fastest adopters of technology. The early 2000s saw the internet uproot traditional travel agencies. The 2010s saw OTAs and mobile booking transform consumer expectations. Now, the 2020s are shaping up to be defined by three simultaneous waves:

1. Mobile as the primary travel interface
   Travelers expect everything—from boarding passes to lounge access to emergency help—to live inside their phone.
2. Biometrics as the new passport
   For travel hubs trying to handle record passenger numbers, biometrics are not optional. They’re the only scalable solution for reducing queues and improving throughput.
3. AI as the new travel concierge
   Whether it’s itinerary planning, translation, baggage assistance, or customer service, AI is becoming a 24/7 companion that shifts the travel experience from reactive to predictive.

Tools like TripReMIT and PokkeTTREK fit directly into this shift: they support a world where travelers carry less, expect more automation, and want services to adapt to them—not the other way around.

Conclusion

IATA’s findings land at an interesting time because they echo broader trends across other major travel-tech research sources—from Amadeus’s Traveler Tribes report to Deloitte’s Global State of the Consumer studies. All point in the same direction: travelers want speed, autonomy, and seamlessness. And the companies best positioned for the next decade are those aligning with this digital-first traveler.

When we compare the pace of innovation across the market, airports and airlines are accelerating fastest (thanks to biometrics), while hotels and tour operators lag behind in mobile optimization and AI adoption. Meanwhile, fintech-driven travel tools—Revolut, Wise, TripReMIT, and even crypto-enabled platforms—are stepping into gaps that traditional players haven’t filled quickly enough.

The big takeaway? The “travel-tech revolution” is no longer about what’s coming. It’s about what’s already here. Smartphones have become passports, maps, safety tools, translators, and payment devices. Biometrics are becoming the new ID infrastructure. AI is becoming the traveler’s co-pilot.

IATA’s GPS doesn’t just validate these trends—it confirms that travelers expect even more digital evolution ahead. And the brands that embrace that shift now will be the ones shaping the next era of global travel.