SUMMER 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 25
SITA - COVER STORY
across borders. Without ongoing
innovation and investment, border
bottlenecks will persist—and likely
worsen.
Border Systems Under
Pressure
Governments are navigating a
complex landscape – 昀椀guratively
and literally - when shaping border
control strategies, especially amid
accelerating global travel growth.
Passenger volumes have not
only rebounded; they now exceed
pre-pandemic levels. According
to IATA, global traveller numbers
rose by 10.4% in 2024 compared
to 2023, marking a 3.8% increase
over 昀椀gures recorded before
the COVID outbreak. And the
surge is far from over. According
to International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) forecasts,
the 2024 4.6 billion passenger
number will swell to a whopping
12.4 billion by 2050.
Airports and ports worldwide
are recognising the capacity
challenges and already responding
by expanding their facilities. But
border systems must evolve
too. Many, however, operate
infrastructure and processes
designed and built for a di昀昀erent
era. So, unless border processes
are modernised to match rising
expectations and greater mobility,
the friction at control points will
only intensify.
Security at the speed of
travel
While security remains a top
priority, it can’t stand alone. To
meet modern demands, border
systems must also be faster,
better coordinated, and highly
adaptable. What’s needed is
a shift from static processing
to dynamic, smarter and more
resilient operations.
Flexibility is key, especially
when needing to adapt to sudden
changes—such as a global health
crisis or large-scale events like
the Olympics or FIFA World Cup
– that can trigger major shifts in
travel patterns. A more responsive
approach allows governments to
adjust and align border policies
and procedures in real-time,
without compromising security or
safety.
This really calls for a
fundamental rethink. Borders
must evolve from being rigid
checkpoints to becoming interconnected, dynamic systems—
designed not only to enforce rules,
but to anticipate and rapidly adapt
to change.
e昀케ciency. That means faster
processing, less congestion,
and strengthened security by
shifting resources to where they’re
needed most.
Uni昀椀ed Borders: The Power
of Coordination
Start small. Think big
Understandably, border
management isn’t the
responsibility of a single agency—
it’s a shared e昀昀ort spanning
immigration, customs, public
health, and law enforcement. Yet
when these functions operate in
fragmented silos, ine昀케ciencies
emerge—and in some cases, lead
to critical gaps in security.
By bringing all these elements
GPSJ
But modernising border systems
doesn’t necessarily mean starting
from scratch. Some of the most
e昀昀ective changes begin with small,
targeted improvements.
Take digital travel credentials.
The global demand for faster,
contactless travel is driving
growth in this space. In Aruba,
passengers can clear border
control in as little as 8 seconds.
Seen that yet in Europe?
SITA Borders in brief
SITA Borders aims to help governments strike the right balance between keeping people safe, stopping
threats and still making travel smooth and welcoming.
Its technology supports the entire passenger journey, end-to-end, from pre-travel authorisation to arrival
and clearance – making it easier for border teams and better for travellers.
SITA is trusted by over 70 governments, including every G20 nation, to keep their borders safe, and
people and goods 昀氀owing. Its systems enable more than 2.2 billion journeys every year and connects with
700+ airlines, meaning passengers can move through borders more easily, and agencies get the data they
need to make smart decisions.
SITA started providing border solutions with the 2000 Sydney Olympics, helping manage travel for
thousands of athletes and fans. And more recently it has supported FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where its
systems helped link travel, accommodation, and stadium access—all in one.
Whether it’s in the air, on land, or sea, SITA is helping governments to keep borders secure, travel 昀氀owing
e昀昀ectively, and people moving safely.
What is SITA?
SITA is the air transport industry’s tech engine, making travel safer, easier and more sustainable for everyone.
From the earliest days of commercial aviation to today’s digital frontiers, it has been connecting the industry
and helping it evolve through every leap forward.
With around 2,500 customers, SITA technology supports over 1,000 airports and more than 19,600
aircraft worldwide, operating in more than 200 countries and territories. Behind the scenes, the organisation
bridges 45–50% of the industry’s data exchange, enabling a highly complex global network to operate
smoothly and reliably, every step of the way.
SITA is also transforming fast. From advanced self-service and operations control to airport design and
digital borders, it’s shaping the next generation of travel through key acquisitions like Materna IPS, ASISTIM,
and CCM. It is also expanding beyond aviation with initiatives such as SmartSea, bringing its trusted
technologies to cruise, rail, and urban air mobility.
This transformation is about more than new products. Its investing in skills, tools and partnerships to bring
together smart systems, seamless data, and sustainable innovation. SITA is cutting emissions by 4.2% each
year and targeting net zero by 2050. Its science-based targets are validated by the SBTi, and it is helping
customers reduce their own carbon footprints too.
Find out more at www.sita.aero.
together, aligning data and
decision-making, an integrated
approach can create a single,
uni昀椀ed view of each traveller or
consignment crossing the border.
Pre-clearing passengers before
arrival, enabling the use of secure
digital identities, and harnessing
real-time data, all allow border
agencies to dramatically improve
By digitising travel authorisation,
enabling pre-clearance, and
improving the quality of passenger
data, all can play a part in an
improved border experience. They
can make a real impact.
By rethinking the possibilities,
even small actions can build the
foundation for big change.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2025
25
