Technology Set to Bolster Global Aviation Industry

While IT budgets have stayed largely flat in 2021, airport and airline chief information officers  are betting on technology to support their recovery from COVID-19, with a significant increase in spending on digitalization and sustainability as key priorities by 2024. 

This was revealed in SITA’s 2021 Air Transport IT Insights published on Wednesday.

The data represents the views of more than 180 IT airport and airline decision makers across 45 countries.

According to the Air Transport IT Insights, 84% of airlines and 81% of airports are  expect to spend the same or more in 2022 compared to 2021. 

This year’s IT Insights also identifies passenger health certificate verification as an area for urgent attention as airlines and airports invest in digitizing the process.

The report also found that creating a more streamlined and digitally enabled journey to boost passenger confidence and enhance convenience is a priority for airlines and airports.

Sita at Airports and Borders CEO David Lavorel said the industry faces pressure from all sides with an urgent need to reduce costs by optimizing operational efficiency while also adhering to new operational hurdles connected to COVID-19.

“Smart technology, automation, and digitalization are the only ways our industry can thread the needle between profitability, safety, and sustainability.”

As the industry pushes towards digitalization, there is growing reliance on data centers. 

The report findings show most airlines plan to adopt selection criteria for external data center providers that favour carbon neutrality or other environmental considerations.