SITA backs digital push to build smarter, more resilient Indian airports
HYDERABAD. As India’s air travel demand continues to surge, global air transport IT major SITA is positioning digital collaboration and smart technologies at the centre of airport modernisation, helping the country develop resilient infrastructure capable of supporting rapid growth.
With passenger volumes rising sharply, airports are under pressure to maintain smooth operations even as expansion and upgrade projects are underway. In a statement issued during the ongoing Wings India 2026, India’s flagship civil aviation exhibition, Sumesh Patel, President (Asia Pacific) of SITA, said that operational efficiency and real-time collaboration have become critical to preventing delays and congestion, particularly during peak travel periods. To address this, the company is working with airports and airlines to create connected digital ecosystems that allow all stakeholders to share data and coordinate seamlessly. Patel participated in roundtable themed ‘Collaborative Transformation; Developing and Operating Airports of the future’ held during Wings India 2026.
SITA’s technology portfolio – deployed at 61 airports across India and more than 1,000 airports globally – integrates artificial intelligence, biometrics and advanced airport management tools. These solutions support passenger processing across multiple touchpoints, from check-in kiosks and self-service baggage drops to airside coordination, enabling airports, airlines, air navigation service providers, regulators and technology partners to work from a single, real-time operational view.
According to the company, this approach not only improves day-to-day efficiency but also enables predictive and collaborative operations that help airports scale safely in response to fluctuating passenger volumes. For airport staff, digital integration simplifies workflows and reduces operational disruptions, while passengers benefit from shorter queues, faster processing and more reliable journeys.
India, now the world’s third-largest aviation market, recently handled over 400 million air travellers, with aviation contributing an estimated $53 billion to the country’s GDP. Patel noted that digital transformation will be essential for airports to keep pace with this growth and meet rising passenger expectations.
In India, SITA is currently running one of the country’s largest aviation technology programmes, rolling out cloud-based passenger and baggage solutions across up to 50 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports. These systems are expected to cover more than 3,500 touchpoints and already support 61 airports with check-in, self-service and baggage management platforms. The company also assists over 65 airlines in complying with Government of India Advance Passenger Information (API) requirements.
SITA plays a key role in India’s biometric travel initiatives as well, supporting DigiYatra services currently operational at 17 airports, with 10 more set to join. Over the longer term, the company envisions seamless walk-through journeys enabled by trusted digital identities, automated border processing, real-time baggage tracking and connected onward travel, according to Patel.
With more than 1,100 employees in India, a 24/7 Global Command Centre in Delhi and local manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, Patel said SITA remains committed to helping India build airports that are not only larger, but smarter, more connected and resilient enough to meet future aviation challenges.
