Chinese airports and airline companies are leading the way in automating the passenger journey, according to SITA, a Swiss air transport communications and information technology company.

In its 2021 Air Transport IT Insights report, SITA said that the Chinese airports and airlines are investing in boosting their passenger management systems.

The companies are said to have been introducing biometric technologies at touchpoints across the journey in order to streamline the management of health documentation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report suggested that the Chinese airlines and airports are focusing on strategies to conserve energy and minimise environmental impacts.

In a statement, SITA said: “A large majority of Chinese airlines (91%) and most airports (68%) expect to spend the same or more on IT in 2022 compared to 2021. A full 100% of airlines are directing these investments towards upgrading their core passenger management systems by 2024.

“Solutions for aircraft maintenance, a new priority for this year, are also attracting investments from 100% of airlines over the next three years as they look to further boost operational efficiency through digitalisation.”