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Airline technology is entering a new phase as AI moves from assistance toward action, pushing leaders to connect data, modernize core systems, and decide where automation can act independently and where human judgment must remain.

In-flight Wi-Fi is becoming a standard expectation for airline passengers. Travelers want reliable connectivity throughout the flight, access to their preferred content, and an experience that closely resembles what they…

Business travel is firmly embedded in how companies operate. Travelers and managers agree on its value, and both expect it to remain an important part of work in 2027.

Scaling AI agents is less about the model than the systems, talent, and infrastructure around it. As travel companies move from pilots into production, they must decide which capabilities differentiate the business and which are better handled by a specialist.

At the Skift Transatlantic Summit, Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Alice Mansergh explained how the island of Ireland is navigating current headwinds by investing in connectivity marketing, market diversification, AI-driven discovery, and the authentic local experiences that can keep the country high on travelers’ wish lists.

Travel credit cards are moving well beyond points and booking. At Skift Global Forum, Capital One Travel’s Sarah Moore said the opportunity lies in remaining useful throughout the trip by combining context, experiences, technology, and trust to build deeper relationships with travelers.

Sustainability is increasingly tied to hotel performance, from operating costs and asset value to guest experience and talent. Accor’s Coline Pont explains how the company’s new Hosting Change strategy aims to turn those connections into measurable value.

At Skift Global Forum, Sierra CEO Bret Taylor argued that AI agents could connect booking, service, sales, and loyalty into a more seamless customer relationship, organized around the traveler rather than a company’s internal structure.

Travel brands are pouring more money into creators, but spend alone won’t build an edge. The advantage will come from learning faster, measuring better, and turning what works into a repeatable system.

At Skift Global Forum 2026, Lindblad Expeditions CEO Natalya Leahy explained how expedition travel is redefining what luxury is. Affluent travelers increasingly value expert guidance, personalization, authenticity, and emotional connection, giving Lindblad room to grow without sacrificing the meaningful, intimate experiences that define its brand.

Travelers do not separate a connectivity failure from the rest of their trip. Airlines, hotels, platforms, and connectivity providers must build reliable access into the journey before AI raises the stakes.

The travel industry is racing to embrace AI, but still struggling with fundamental questions of trust, coordination, and commercial returns. We surveyed executives at Skift Global Forum 2026 to understand where the industry sees opportunity and where its biggest concerns lie.