Cybersecurity threats to operational technology systems, resulting in demand for continuous investment and training, is top of mind for North American airport executives, according to a new study released by AirportNEXT Solutions, in partnership with Airports Council International – North America. The 2026 Futures Study – A Strategic Roadmap for the Next Generation of Airports, identified 55 trends in total, with cybersecurity threats ranking highest at 4.63 in importance, based on a 0-5 scale on how important each tend will be in the next three to five years.
A slowing economy reduces passenger demand, delays capital projects, and pressures airports to diversify revenue and control operating costs ranked second with a score of 4.18. In fact, three of the top five trends were concerns over economic conditions: slowing economy, government funding challenges and rising interest rates. Other trends centered around technology and innovation, as well as shifting community expectations.
Among concessions-specific trends, the shift of retail and food offerings toward local, sustainable, and experiential concepts ranked 15th, passenger expectations around digital services that anticipate their needs and that offer tailored flight updates, retail offers, and wayfinding ranked 22nd, the expansion of premium travel and lounge experiences as airlines target high-yield customers ranked 26th, cultural and local immersion becoming a differentiator in airport dining and design themes ranked 29th, passengers expectations around retail-street pricing at the airport ranked 46th and retail competition from e-commerce and pre-order delivery models ranked 53rd.
The Futures Study offered strategies for addressing many of the trends. Within the commercial services realm, the report noted that “rising passenger expectations for personalized and locally authentic experiences are colliding with economic headwinds that constrain what can realistically be offered, requiring a more deliberate and targeted commercial strategy.”
For the short-term (0-24 months), suggested strategies included:
- Audit concession mix, hours, pricing, and service gaps across pre- and post-security journeys, benchmarked on sales per enplanement.
- Add high-demand convenience services first, including family spaces, pet relief, translation, and accessible amenities.
- Adopt transparent value-pricing guidelines, with a defined comparison basket and periodic audits, to narrow the perception gap between airport and street pricing.
- Convert underused or vacant terminal space into recurring revenue by competitively leasing experiential retail, short-term or pop-up concepts, and premium lounges, with operators funding build-out where possible.
- Competitively bid the airport advertising program and shift toward digital out-of-home and programmatic formats to grow non-aeronautical media revenue.
Over the medium-term (2-5 years), suggested strategies included:
- Restructure concession agreements with percentage-rent tiers and service-quality clauses tied to audited scores, by daypart and location.
- Build a curated local-brand program that turns food, retail, and design into a regional differentiator.
- Expand premium lounge and hospitality offerings where yield, dwell time, and passenger mix support investment.
- Introduce a single airport-wide pre-order, delivery, and digital retail platform, with tenant participation written into new leases.
- Execute a full commercial master plan linking concessions, passenger flow, revenue growth by zone, and customer experience.
In presenting the full report to the industry at the recent ACI-NA annual conference, AirportNEXT Solutions President Tom Ruth said strategic planning for airports can be “kind of a lonely process.” With the study, planners can know that they’re not alone, and that other airports are tackling similar challenges. Ruth said the study provides a resource that “embraces what other airports are doing,” offering a tool for future planning for airports.
