Beyond the queue: smarter security will ultimately shape the future of global air travel
The balance between passenger convenience and security is no longer an either-or proposition - it is the defining challenge of 2026.
Airports now face a more complex, fluid threat landscape than ever before. Rapid technological, political and social change has brought forth new security threats, which evolve daily and challenge airports.
From savvy stowaways and drone incursions to cyberattacks (which surged by 600% in recent years), the breadth of risks spans physical, digital and human vectors. In this environment, vigilance cannot stand still.
Yet today's innovators remind us that technology can be our ally: the same advances that empower attackers can also be turned against them, with far less impact on honest travellers. In fact, a wave of emerging technologies is already reshaping the passenger journey.
Summary
- Airport security in 2026 is defined by the need to improve passenger convenience without compromising safety.
- The threat landscape has broadened beyond terrorism to include cyberattacks, drones, insider threats, stowaways, and lone-wolf actors.
- Cyber risk is rising sharply as aviation digitalises, with reported cyberattacks surging by roughly 600% in recent years.
- New screening and identity technologies (CT/3D scanners, AI detection, biometrics, digital travel credentials) can increase both detection performance and throughput.
- Technology upgrades alone are insufficient without global harmonisation of standards, protocols, and training to avoid weak links in the system.
- Funding and capability gaps persist, with major hubs investing heavily while smaller airports struggle, leaving unresolved questions over who should pay for security.
- DOWNLOAD CAPA - Centre for Aviation research report - 'Airport security in 2026 – a balancing act between passenger convenience and safety'.
Rethinking airport security for a safer, smarter future
The global aviation industry stands as one of the world's most powerful economic engines, generating approximately USD4.1 trillion in total economic impact and supporting 86.5 million jobs worldwide. It underpins trade, tourism, social connectivity and national development, contributing nearly 4% of global GDP.
In some economies, aviation's influence is even more pronounced, accounting for more than a quarter of national output. Yet for all its economic might, aviation continues to operate under a persistent and evolving security shadow.
While large-scale aviation-related terrorist attacks have mercifully subsided in recent years, the threat itself has never truly diminished. Instead, it has mutated, diversified and embedded itself in a broader risk landscape that is more complex, fluid and technologically sophisticated than at any time in history.
The late 1990s and early 2000s marked a defining era for aviation security
A series of attempted and successful bomb plots demonstrated both the ingenuity and determination of terrorist networks, exposing vulnerabilities in aviation's global systems during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The foiled 2006 liquid explosives plot, in particular, reshaped airport security worldwide, ushering in strict limitations on liquids and a new generation of screening technologies.
These measures fundamentally altered the passenger experience and remain embedded in regulatory frameworks today, albeit now gradually relaxed in select markets as advanced screening systems are deployed. Had several of those plots succeeded, aviation as we know it would have been radically transformed, potentially suffering a structural collapse in passenger confidence and global connectivity.
Today, the threat environment is arguably broader than ever
Traditional attack methods remain possible, including small-arms assaults on crowded terminal spaces or improvised explosive devices. At the same time, emerging risks have multiplied. Cyberattacks on aviation infrastructure have surged, driven by increasing digitalisation, while drone incursions present new operational and security challenges.
Insider threats, stowaways, and lone-wolf attackers, radicalised or motivated by personal grievances, pose dangers that are exceptionally difficult to detect in advance. The availability of online instructions for manufacturing toxins or explosives adds yet another layer of risk, underscoring the need for constant vigilance.
Against this backdrop, airports are confronted with a fundamental tension: how to deliver ever-higher levels of security while simultaneously improving the passenger experience. In an era of record demand, travellers increasingly expect speed, convenience and minimal friction.
Lengthy queues and intrusive checks are no longer seen as tolerable trade-offs for safety. Instead, passengers and regulators alike demand systems that are both rigorous and seamless. This balance has become the defining challenge of airport security in 2026.
Technological innovation is reshaping what is possible…
Advanced 3D computed tomography scanners, powered by artificial intelligence, now allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics inside their bags, dramatically reducing processing times while enhancing detection accuracy. Biometric identity systems and digital travel credentials are enabling airports to verify travellers swiftly and securely, paving the way for paperless journeys.
Automated lanes, virtual queue management and real-time analytics are optimising passenger flows, while predictive intelligence tools are enhancing threat detection behind the scenes. Together, these technologies promise a future in which security is both more effective and far less visible.
… but technology alone is insufficient
The aviation ecosystem is inherently global, and fragmentation remains one of its greatest vulnerabilities. Today, security processes vary widely between countries and even between airports within the same jurisdiction. This lack of standardisation complicates passenger journeys, drives inefficiencies and, more critically, creates uneven levels of protection.
In a hyper-connected industry, the weakest screening point anywhere can represent a risk everywhere. Achieving meaningful harmonisation of standards, protocols and training is therefore not merely desirable but essential.
Recent real-world developments illustrate both progress and persistent challenges
Major hubs across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia are investing heavily in next-generation security infrastructure, often committing hundreds of millions of dollars to comprehensive upgrades. Large-scale deployment of CT scanners, biometric boarding systems and automated checkpoints is accelerating.
Airports are also reconfiguring terminal layouts to integrate security more naturally into the passenger journey, rather than treating it as a discrete obstacle. These initiatives demonstrate that, when properly designed, security can become a strategic asset, improving throughput, enhancing customer satisfaction and reinforcing brand reputation.
However, disparities in funding and regulatory alignment remain stark. While leading hubs push the boundaries of innovation, smaller and regional airports often struggle to finance even basic upgrades.
Governments face difficult choices about how to allocate limited resources, particularly in an era of fiscal pressure and competing infrastructure demands. The question of who should ultimately pay for airport security - states, operators, airlines or passengers - remains unresolved.
There is no universal solution, only context-specific answers shaped by national policy, market structure and risk appetite.
The balance between growing passenger volumes and the increasing complexity of threats
The strategic importance of security investment is underscored by growing passenger volumes and the increasing complexity of threats. As global air travel approaches and surpasses pre-pandemic levels, airports must process unprecedented numbers of travellers without compromising vigilance.
Failure is not an option. A single serious incident can erase years of economic gains, shatter public confidence and trigger sweeping regulatory clampdowns. In this environment, proactive, well-funded and collaborative approaches to security are not discretionary expenditures but core strategic imperatives.
Equally vital is the human dimension. Advanced technologies require skilled personnel to operate, interpret and adapt them. Continuous training, professional development and international knowledge exchange are essential to maintain high standards and respond effectively to emerging risks.
Leadership, too, plays a critical role. Airport executives and policymakers must foster cultures that prioritise innovation, accountability and cross-border co-operation, recognising that security is a shared responsibility rather than a siloed function.
The evolving narrative around airport security is one of transformation
What was once perceived as a necessary inconvenience is increasingly viewed as a potential competitive differentiator. Airports that deliver fast, courteous and technologically sophisticated screening create lasting impressions of efficiency and care.
Each minute saved at security translates into greater passenger satisfaction, increased commercial spending and stronger brand loyalty. In this sense, security is no longer simply about risk mitigation; it is also about value creation.
Airport security in 2026 - a balancing act between passenger convenience and safety
CAPA - Centre for Aviation's latest in-depth report on airport security 'Airport security in 2026 - a balancing act between passenger convenience and safety' provides senior aviation leaders with a timely, authoritative and global perspective on one of the industry's most critical challenges.
Combining historical context with forward-looking analysis, the report examines how aviation security has evolved from the earliest acts of terrorism through to today's complex, technology-driven environment. It explores the modern threat landscape, detailing emerging risks such as cyber intrusion, drone activity and lone-wolf attacks, while assessing the effectiveness of current countermeasures.
The report offers a comprehensive overview of contemporary security technologies, including CT screening, biometrics and AI-powered detection systems, alongside insights from industry experts on the most pressing operational and strategic priorities.
A detailed case study of the United States' Transportation Security Administration provides a compelling examination of governance models, accountability and the ongoing debate between federal and private-sector provision. Additionally, CAPA - Centre for Aviation analyses market segmentation, key growth drivers, leading suppliers and the unresolved question of security funding.
Security versus efficiency versus passenger experience
As this latest CAPA - Centre for Aviation report highlights, the future of airport security lies in agility, collaboration and vision. By embracing emerging technologies as enablers and committing to global co-ordination, we can end the era of compromise between convenience and safety.
Instead, we can forge a future where vigilant security is a seamless, value-added part of the passenger journey. The choices we make today - to invest boldly, standardise internationally and partner across boundaries - will determine whether air travel remains a symbol of freedom or becomes mired in friction.
The time is now to build a proactive, unified, future-ready security posture. Every stakeholder in aviation must rise to this challenge, for the sake of safer skies and happier travellers in 2026 and beyond.