What Synect’s Team is Excited to See at PTE 2026
- Abagael Rudock

- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Passenger Terminal Expo (PTE) kicks off on March 17, and our team can’t wait to return to the show floor in London!

Each year, PTE brings the industry together to explore the future. With hundreds of exhibitors, a packed panel agenda, and the introduction of PTE Live, our team will be doing our best to be in a few places at once throughout the show! As we prepare, we wanted to share a preview of what we’re most excited to explore.
Applying Innovation Across the Airport
In the past, airports have been seen as asset-heavy environments where change happens slowly. In recent years, the industry has repeatedly proven that assumption wrong.
Modern airports are ecosystems of innovation. Data, technology, and operations teams work together to create a connected environment that can respond to change quickly and deliver high-quality passenger experiences. Faster implementation cycles allow airports to experiment, iterate, and introduce new solutions faster than ever before.

Several exciting panels at PTE will explore how airports are embracing flexibility, new ideas, and new technologies. For those of us working in the industry every day, it’s exciting to see how rapidly these changes are taking shape.
The Rise of the Emotionally Intelligent Airport
Passenger experience management is putting the emotional aspects of the airport environment in the spotlight.
For years, airports have relied on surveys and post-journey feedback to understand how passengers felt. By the time feedback arrived, the moment had already passed.
Jonathan Underwood’s PTE Live Session will explore how airports can move past retroactive feedback and respond to passenger needs in real time. By combining operational data, behavioral insights, and real-time feedback, airports may soon be able to create a live picture of the passenger experience as it unfolds. This shift opens the door to more responsive, more human-centered airport environments.
Synect’s work centers on understanding passengers’ emotional experiences in the airport. Our content strategies deliver the right materials in the right moments to address passengers’ changing needs and proactively address common challenges. With dynamic, real-time messaging, airports can guide travelers with confidence and keep operations running smoothly.
Smarter Infrastructure, Faster Journeys
Another key idea appearing across multiple sessions is simple but powerful , as highlighted by Kris de Sutter, CEO of Incomelec: the airport of the future is not measured in square meters but in seconds saved.
Multiple panels at PTE focus on eliminating friction with smart automations, intelligent access control, and new self-service solutions. Automated bag drops, advanced security screening technology, smarter passenger flow tools, and more exciting innovations are all helping transform slower parts of the airport into faster, more efficient experiences.

Efficiency has long been an industry priority, particularly for high-volume airports. As Austin Gould, President of Gould Strategic Solutions and former Acting Administrator for the TSA, said during our 2024 FTE panel:
“If effective communications can help shave off a second or two per passenger over three million passengers a day, you’ve really done something.”
Those seconds add up fast. We’re excited to see how the innovations featured at PTE will change passenger flows.
Exploring the Future of the Passenger Experience
Passenger experience remains front and center during this show. Topics like inclusivity, accessibility, the role of AI, and hyper-personalization are top of mind for many airport operators, and each one is sparking important conversations about the future of the passenger journey.
Inclusive, accessible experiences are more important than ever before, particularly as airports prepare for a mega-decade of events. With record-breaking passenger volumes predicted in the coming years, airports need to prioritize accessibility to maintain smooth operations.

Well-placed, innovative experiences can make a major impact on the passenger journey but also bring their own unique considerations. Hyper-personalization promises seamless, intuitive travel experiences; AI-driven services promise better connections and lighter lifts for airport teams. But will passengers welcome these changes? Are they scalable? Does it deliver what passengers want and need?
These questions demand discussion, and we can't wait to hear our peers’ thoughts during the show.
See You in London
Passenger Terminal Expo consistently brings together some of the most forward-thinking voices in aviation, and this year’s event promises countless exciting conversations.
From real-time passenger experience insights to smarter infrastructure and emerging technologies, PTE reflects an industry that’s evolving rapidly.
If you’ll be in London for PTE, we’d love to connect. Our team will be exploring the show and attending sessions throughout the week, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.



