Smarter, faster, and ready for more passengers

Shorter airport lines for check-in, bag drop, and security. Digital signs directing travelers to the right gate in their language. Airports designed to support more sustainable travel.

These are not a far-off dream: According to McKinsey research, global annual aircraft movements—meaning takeoffs plus landings—could reach nearly 176 million by 2053. In plain terms, airports and airlines could get busier, which means that the broader travel experience, from the terminal to the cabin, is undergoing a transformation.

In our Next Normal series on airports, Alastair Green, Kelly Ungerman, Steve Saxon, and Vik Krishnan share their vision for transforming airports through technology. With smoother check-ins, personalized terminals, improved performance, and efficient behind-the-scenes operations, the travel experience could become easier, smarter, and more personal.

Before planning your vacation this summer, read our insights on what’s next for the future of travel.

View from the inside of a modern bright airport with an airplane taking off outside the window.

**The Next Normal—The future of airports: Seamless, automated, and personalized**

Airports have existed for more than a century. New technology could help revitalize their infrastructure—for both air travelers and airport staff. In this edition of The Next Normal, we examine how innovations such as AI, biometrics, and flying taxis could transform the airport experience.

Read more

Image of an airplane taking off at night with blurred lit buildings in the background.

Smart airports: Clearing the runway for digital takeoff

Many airports are overdue for a digital transformation. Adopting cutting-edge infrastructure technology could improve traveler experiences, streamline operations, and create substantial value.

Unlock airport digital potential

A relaxed business class passenger is looking out of the window of a passenger aircraft.

Airline premium cabins: Profitability at the front of the plane

Airlines can modernize their approach to business- and first-class revenue. Premium cabins call for differentiated strategies.

Get premium right

A sliver airplane flies through an abstract circle in the sky

The State of Aviation 2025

Explore the 2025 aviation industry outlook with expert insights, key trends, and in-depth analysis of airline profitability, business models, and market shifts.

Download the 51-page report

Brilliant Moves: Coffee with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby

As both companies enter their second centuries, United’s Scott Kirby and McKinsey’s Bob Sternfels discuss combining legacy scale with start-up energy—and a no-excuses mindset.

Watch the conversation

A woman passenger working mid-flight stops to gaze out her airplane window.

The economics of an airline flight

Have you ever considered exactly how much money an airline makes from a single flight?

Prepare for takeoff

Glenn Fogel with short salt and pepper hair and blue eyes, wearing a dark blazer over a light collared shirt. He is looking slightly off to the side with a neutral, thoughtful expression against a softly blurred indoor background.

Booking Holdings’ CEO on building the world’s largest travel platform

Glenn Fogel explains how AI, personalization, and the “connected trip” could redefine value for travelers.

The future of travel

To see more essential reading on topics that matter, visit McKinsey Themes.

—Edited by Tanushree Baijal, editor, Gurugram

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