As passenger numbers rise, travel industry experts predict that new technology and cutting-edge design could make airports destinations in their own right
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Airports used to be somewhere you wanted to hurry through, rather than somewhere you actually wanted to hang out. And while no one enjoys a surprise two-hour delay being announced over the loudspeakers or an extended wait in the gate lounge, people’s opinions — and intended use — of the airport is now changing.
Thanks to developments in technology — such as smarter security scanners, biometric boarding and self-service bag drops — and more impressive, consumer-friendly designs, this shift is something that Beste Ermaner, Vice President at Philip Morris International (PMI) GTR, pictured below, has witnessed first-hand. “Travel is no longer seen simply as a way to get from one place to another. The journey has become part of the experience, and passengers increasingly expect it to feel seamless, relevant and enjoyable from start to finish,” she says.
This comes at an important time for airports, as global travel is continuing to grow. According to trade body ACI Europe, passenger traffic across the European airport network increased in July and August this year, up by 3.9 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively compared to the same months last year.
“ACI World forecasts global airport passenger traffic to reach 10.2 billion movements in 2026 and 18.8 billion by 2045. That growth creates significant opportunity,” says Ermaner. “The future will belong to organisations that collaborate across the ecosystem and connect physical and digital moments into one coherent traveller journey.”
One of the most crucial changes in the airport experience is the use of technology. In its The Next Normal report, management consulting firm McKinsey & Company outlined some big changes in airport systems and procedures we could see in the coming years. One is physical documents being replaced entirely by AI and biometrics, enabling travellers to have a paper-free and largely human-free journey through security and bag-check.
The report also predicts we could have personalised terminals with departure boards and signs that can speak to individuals in their native language.
As many other industries are realising, using automation behind the scenes could make the airport industry run more efficiently, too. “The biggest opportunity for AI is to make travel simpler,” says Ermaner. “We are already seeing how AI can help companies make better decisions by analysing large amounts of information much faster. In the future, technology could help travellers navigate unfamiliar environments, find relevant information more easily and make better choices based on where they are, where they are going and the time they have available.”
But it’s important that technology is used in a way that enhances the airport experience, and doesn’t fully replace people, as human interactions are still very much needed, says Ermaner. “Technology should support the traveller, not overwhelm them. Personalisation must be responsible, with appropriate privacy safeguards and respect for consumer choice. And human judgement will remain essential. AI can help us understand patterns; people bring context, empathy and trust.”
Not all airports are created equal, either. From in-house breweries (Munich Airport) and Edo-period dining streets (Tokyo Haneda Airport, pictured) to indoor forests complete with a 130-foot waterfall (Singapore Changi Airport), some are designed and decorated like shopping malls, five-star hotels and landmark attractions.
Every year, the Prix Versailles celebrates beautiful architecture across the globe, including that of airports. Its 2026 honours list includes Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport, with its 800-foot-long wall of curved glass, and Terminal 2 at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Northeast India, whose design was inspired by the beautiful bamboo orchid flower that can be found across the region.
“Some leading airports are already becoming much more than transit points. They are bringing together dining, art, wellbeing, entertainment, hospitality and distinctive retail experiences in ways that make the journey more enjoyable,” says Ermaner. “Local culture, hospitality and human interaction can create a genuine sense of place.”
Crucially, airports need to be able to meet different needs, whether you’re someone who wants to move through swiftly on business, or a leisurely holidaymaker that wants to embrace the whole experience. “Travellers want different things from an airport. Some want to move through as quickly and efficiently as possible. Others have more time and want to relax, explore or discover something distinctive about the place they are travelling through,” adds Ermaner. “Airports will need to deliver both: efficiency when people want speed, and experience when people have time to engage.”
It’s an exciting time for travel — and airports are only going to get slicker and more innovative in their offering. Ermaner hopes to see changes that make travel more enjoyable for everyone, while preserving the human interactions that are often the most memorable part of exploring the world. “What excites me most is the possibility of making travel both simpler and more human,” she says. “Technology can remove friction. It can take away some of the complexity that exists in travel today and give people more time to enjoy the journey itself.”
She adds: “But I do not think the future of travel should be about technology taking over. The moments we remember are often very human, discovering somewhere unexpected, experiencing a different culture, or simply receiving great hospitality. The real opportunity is finding the right balance and preserving the sense of discovery that makes travel special in the first place.”
PMI Global Travel Retail is the duty-free and travel retail division of Philip Morris International