Could SITA’s acquisition of Collins Aerospace’s airport business transform airport operations?

In a landmark move that underpins significant consolidation in the airport technology sector, SITA has agreed to acquire Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions, a subsidiary of RTX.

The purchase price has yet to be disclosed, but the deal announced on 15 October is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

A broader airport footprint for SITA

Collins Aerospace Airport Solutions supplies the technology that moves passengers and their bags through the terminal.

Its systems run from check-in and self-service touchpoints to bag drop and the mission-critical platforms that keep airport operations running. For SITA, which is committed to creating “frictionless, stress-free and fully autonomous passenger journeys,” the deal broadens its airport footprint and installed base.

“Air transport is growing and so are expectations,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA. He underlined that the industry increasingly needs technology, innovation and people working together to connect each part of the journey and ensure disruptions are prevented or kept to a minimum when they occur.

The planned acquisition, he said, “extends SITA’s offerings and capabilities, reinforcing our commitment and role as a trusted technology partner our customers rely on.”

Nathalie Altwegg, Senior Vice President, Airports SITA, added: “Ask an airport what it wants from a technology provider and the answer is a trusted partner. That means understanding its environment, working closely with its teams and being there when support is needed.”

She said the deal will strengthen SITA’s ability to do just that for more customers worldwide.

Linking airport and airline operations

The acquisition adds passenger processing, baggage handling and airport operations technologies to SITA’s growing biometric portfolio. Collins has already deployed biometric solutions at airports including Tokyo, Las Vegas and the Philippines and is planning biometric gates in Fiji.

It also follows SITA’s purchase of Big Blue Analytics, an AI-enabled airline disruption management platform. Together, the two deals point to a broader strategy of linking airline and airport operations, enabling disruption insights to be tied to the terminal systems that act on them.

For RTX, the sale is another step in reshaping its Collins Aerospace business. In July 2025, Safran completed its US$1.8 billion acquisition of Collins’ flight control and actuation business.

Biometrics and the regulatory backdrop

Earlier this month, SITA joined industry partners, including Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Amadeus, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and IDEMIA Public Security, to announce the formation of a Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition.

The coalition is calling on EU policymakers to ensure a balanced regulatory approach that supports efficient, convenient air travel, while maintaining strong safeguards on the responsible use of biometrics.

Research cited by the coalition found that 74% of travellers surveyed would share biometric data in place of showing a passport or boarding pass. However, the coalition stressed these benefits must go hand in hand with strong privacy protections, including passengers’ ability to choose where to share or delete their data at any time.

What consolidation means for airports and airlines

For airports, the key benefit of SITA’s acquisition of Collins Aerospace Airports Solutions is a single partner for installation, maintenance and software support. But fewer suppliers also mean less choice and weaker bargaining power at contract renewal. A larger shared platform could also concentrate operational risk.  

Once complete, the deal will reshape the airport technology sector, impacting who supplies what technology and on what terms. For many airport and airline customers, that will matter long before the ink is dry.