Aviation industry doubles down on cybersecurity

The latest report from air transport technology company SITA reveals that 74% of airlines and 72% of airports forecast an increase in overall IT spend over the next two years. In 2024, the aviation industry’s overall IT spend increased and was estimated to reach USD$37 billion for airlines, and almost $9 billion for airports.

The 2024 Air Transport IT Insights report shows that 66% of airlines and 73% of airports mention cybersecurity as one of their top three areas of focus. About half of airlines and three-quarters of airports are starting their digital transformation by upgrading IT infrastructure, moving to the cloud, and safeguarding data.

Cybersecurity is an even greater priority in Europe than globally, with 81% of airlines and airports ranking it among their top concerns. The region leads in implementing security operations centres (SOCs) and all top three cybersecurity technologies but faces challenges in integrating these with legacy systems.

Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is also accelerating in Europe, with a higher focus on generative AI and large language models (52% versus 38% globally), as well as video analytics for aircraft turnaround.

Privacy concerns remain a key challenge in biometric adoption (76% in Europe versus 49% globally), while European airports are leading in sustainability initiatives, with 61% considering environmental factors in IT equipment selection and 71% implementing IT life-cycle management policies.

From safer skies to seamless journeys

Biometric tech continues to transform passenger processing. Over half of airports plan to roll out biometrics for check-in and bag drop by 2026. SITA’s report shows that 70% of airlines expect to adopt biometric ID management systems in the same time frame. These solutions will reduce congestion by speeding up passenger processing by up to 30% and reduce wait times by up to 60%.

Airlines are also using generative AI, large language models, and machine learning to improve flight operations, customer service, and fuel efficiency. Airports are focusing on data platforms and predictive analytics to make real-time decisions and manage passenger flow. Interestingly, 90% of airlines have already adopted data platforms, and 42% are exploring ways to organise their data for AI projects.

Smart IT to meet sustainability targets

Three-quarters of airlines are using real-time software for flight optimisation, weather risk assessment, and flight operations, and more than half of airlines use real-time software to calculate carbon emissions. On top of that, 62% of airlines are working with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) suppliers, a big leap forward in sustainability compared with last year. This is the area that has seen the biggest year-on-year growth.

Airports are responding, with 54% of them (compared with 29% in 2023) having already implemented energy management systems to track and reduce emissions. Previous reports revealed that 81% of airports planned to implement this tech by 2026, and they’re making steady progress.

The SITA 2024 Air Transport IT Insights report represents the views of over 250 senior airline and airport executives, covering a significant share of global passenger traffic.

Dominic Steptoe, Chief Product Officer at BOXX Insurance, recently spoke to ITIJ about balancing the need for digital innovation with cyber risk and security when it comes to customer information.