AI has become mainstream in travel, with nearly eight in ten travellers already using it for trip planning, according to the whitepaper by Amadeus and Microsoft. Julie Shainock, Global MD, Travel, Transport & Logistics, Microsoft, said, “2026 will be a defining year for agentic AI in aviation. Over the next 18 months, most airlines will move from exploration to real-world deployment, embedding AI agents across the traveller journey and core operations.” The study found privacy, accuracy and human oversight remain travellers’ top concerns.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.