Walking the floor at PTE 2026 in London, several things stood out to me: the hustle and bustle of the event, the conversations happening around me, and, of course, the solutions on show that promise to reshape the passenger journey. However, one of the most striking aspects was the fragmented nature of the event. There were hundreds of booths showcasing proprietary solutions and isolated data models, each with its own vision of how the passenger journey could, or should, look. In a cut-throat industry, this is to be expected. Hardware vendors compete for deployments to increase their market share, while software solution providers continuously update their platforms to deliver maximum value to airport operations.
Although this is natural, we are now seeing partnerships form between industry stakeholders to harmonise previously fragmented processes and promote interoperability between isolated systems. When observing hardware deployed at any given airport, you will typically see an array of solutions from a wide range of hardware providers. Without deliberate collaboration and shared standards between vendors, each passenger touchpoint operates in a siloed manner. As a result, passengers are subject to repeated identity checks, and the journey often feels far from seamless, counter to what is intended.
To achieve a truly seamless passenger journey, interoperability and harmonisation across the value chain are essential. Notable partnerships that promote this include:
- In February 2026, IDEMIA Public Security and Elenium Automation partnered to create a unified layer of identity across all airport touchpoints.
- In April 2025, SITA, IDEMIA and NEC partnered to accelerate the adoption of digital identity technology in the travel industry through SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem; an interoperable framework connecting various systems for real-time digital identity verification.
- Also in April 2025, IDEMIA Public Security announced that it is among the first technology partners to demonstrate IATA’s Contactless Travel Directory, a global repository that connects airports, airlines, and border agencies, enabling them to identify biometric services and share passenger data securely.
Keen to examine the topic of digital identity further, our upcoming market intelligence report on “The Digitisation of Travel Authorisations, Credentials & Visas” will identify the timeline for completion of government and border agencies adopting new digital processes, categorising countries by readiness to move ahead. If you would like to learn more, please click here or reach out via my email address below.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Shubh Karbhari
shubh.karbhari@valourconsultancy.com
