What the airport of 2030 will look like

Whether it's biometrics to get through security, an airline app that tells you if your flight is delayed or free Wi-Fi and charging areas for all travelers, there's no doubt technology this past decade has helped enhance the airport experience for fliers around the world. How exactly will it continue to make a difference in the 10 years to come? In fact, the better question may be: how won't it? "Technology is going to play a much bigger role at airports than it ever has in the past and will be the key driver in creating every facet of a seamless travel journey," says Sherry Stein, head of technology for SITA, a technology company providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry. Nina Brooks, director of security, facilitation and airport IT for Airports Council International, the trade association for the world's airports, agrees and adds that technological innovations today are especially critical to how an airport runs because the number of global passengers is expected to more than double by 2040. According to ACI, 2018 saw 8.8b fliers; in 2040, that number is expected to jump to 19.7b fliers. Story includes a summary of what fliers can expect at airports on the technology front between 2020 and 2030.<br/>