Travel Tech
Southwest Airlines will introduce Starlink WiFi this year
Southwest Airlines will begin rolling out Starlink-powered WiFi across its fleet this summer. The carrier plans to have installed the upgrade on more than 300 of its 800 aircraft by the end of 2026. Tony Roach, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer & Brand...
The secrets behind Air Canada’s industry-leading app
Air Canada has become one of the Americas' most tech-forward airlines, boasting a cutting-edge digital strategy that includes in-app bag tracking, website redevelopment, and AI implementation. Chief Digital Officer Firas Al Osman believes the philosophy underpinning...
Gulf Air sign with Starlink for free inflight WiFi
Gulf Air, the state carrier of Bahrain, have become the latest airline to partner with Space X's Starlink for high-speed inflight WiFi. Announced on 27 January, the deal will see Gulf Air's entire fleet upgraded for Starlink compatibility, beginning in mid-2026 with...
Riyadh Air tap Neo Space Group for inflight connectivity
Riyadh Air have announced a new partnership with Neo Space Group (NSG) for inflight connectivity (IFC) on their fleet of A321s. NSG's Skywaves solution will support Riyadh Air's onboard offering, providing free WiFi up to 300 Mbps. All passengers have to do to access...
KLM to offer free inflight WiFi on European journeys
KLM have announced that passengers from all classes will be able to access free WiFi on European flights. Beginning on 22 January, travellers can check emails, stream TV, or browse social media on their own devices. The service is available on half of KLM's aircraft,...
Aviation Festival Asia Award 2026 nominations are now open!
The aviation industry in Asia is moving faster than ever, driven by cutting-edge technology, bold collaborations, and a deep commitment to sustainable growth. The Aviation Festival Asia Awards 2026 are here to celebrate the organisations and initiatives that are...
Tech and innovation keep Dallas Fort Worth at the top
Handling 87 million passengers every year, Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) is the third-busiest airport in the world. At the same time, for three consecutive years, Airports Council International (ACI) has recognised DFW as one of the best large airports in...
Korean Air to launch Starlink WiFi by end of 2026
Korean Air and its sister airlines at Hanjin Group airlines have announced they are partnering with Starlink for high-speed inflight WiFi. The South Korean national carrier, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul will begin installation preparation and...
How will New Terminal One transform JFK Airport?
As the New Terminal One at JFK Airport prepares to reopen in 2026, the airport announced this week that JLL will oversee the terminal's operations. From maintaining its all-electric grounding fleet to sustainable air conditioning systems, JLL's management will be...
Turkish Airlines partners with Samsung for smart bag tracking
Turkish Airlines has become the first airline to partner with Samsung for smart bag tracking. From 1 December, passengers travelling with Turkish can take advantage of the Smart Tagged Baggage Service, powered by Samsung's SmartThings Find. The new system will make it...
Abu Dhabi Airports and SITA develop AI airport management
Abu Dhabi Airports and SITA have agreed to work on a new AI-powered airport management system. Air traffic across the United Arab Emirates' capital increased by 13.1% over the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, processing 15.8 million...
2025’s most innovative airports of the year announced
Airports Council International (ACI) and Amadeus has announced the winners of the 2025 Technology Innovation Awards in Busan, South Korea. The fifth annual ceremony celebrated technology, innovation, and sustainability across global airports in four different...
MIA adds largest single deployment of biometric screening in US
Miami International Airport (MIA) has rolled out the largest single deployment of biometric passport screenings in the United States as it presses on with its US$9 billion investment programme. Using SITA Smart Path technology, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)'s...
VOTE NOW for the best airline app in MENA and APAC
After six successful competitions at our World Aviation Festival, in 2026 the Battle of the Airline Apps will debut at Aviation Festival Asia! In this live, on-stage competition, six airlines from MENA and APAC will go head-to-head, pitching their applications to a...
ACI passenger survey highlights key trends for 2026 and beyond
Airports Council International (ACI) have published their annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Global Traveller Survey, highlighting key trends in tech, personalisation, and sustainability. The sixth edition of the report asked more than 4,000 passengers from 30...
Qantas Innovation Centre brings tech development in-house
Qantas have announced they will establish a new Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Opening in March 2026, the Centre will bring tech innovation in-house for the Australian national carrier. 420 skilled jobs will be created over three years, with...
Emirates deploys biometrics at DXB for passport-free experience
Emirates has launched a new biometrics system at Dubai International Airport (DXB), allowing passengers to pass through check-in, security, lounges, and boarding without producing any documents. The 200 cameras have been installed across Terminal 3 to the cost of...
Rome Fiumicino adds AI airport assistant
Aeroporti di Roma has developed an AI assistant for passengers flying from Rome Fiumicino 'Leonardo da Vinci' Airport. Designed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and Storm Reply, the Virtual Assistant is available through the airport's website and its...
Ryanair to scrap paper boarding passes from 12 November
Ryanair will officially scrap paper boarding passes on its flights from 12 November 2025. The switch to app-only tickets was due to take place on 3 November to coincide with the start of its winter schedule. However, Ryanair has pushed back the move to ensure a...
The next-gen passenger experience: Voice-first journeys from booking to boarding
Picture this: you step into the airport and the journey starts in conversation. No fumbling with apps, no juggling boarding passes, no tapping your way through a kiosk. The environment is listening—ready to respond to your voice. “Check me in.” The check-in kiosk...
