- CUSS 2 builds on what’s already working. The goal remains the same: helping multiple airlines share self-service resources efficiently. What’s changing is the technology, with a more flexible, secure, and web-native foundation for the future.
- The move to CUSS 2 is designed to be smooth and manageable. Existing airline applications won’t suddenly stop working. Instead, innovation and future enhancements will be focused on CUSS 2, giving the industry time to plan and adapt.
- Now is the right time to start the conversation. With the IATA CUSS Task Force agreeing that the cutover to CUSS 2 starts at the end of 2026, airports, airlines, and vendors can begin aligning plans, priorities, and dependencies with confidence.
- Success starts with early alignment. Bringing together airport teams, airlines, suppliers, and internal stakeholders early helps reduce uncertainty, coordinate testing and certification, and create a more predictable path to CUSS 2.
What’s New About CUSS 2?
CUSS 2 uses newer technologies, improves security, supports more types of devices, and makes it easier to add new features in the future. The new platform aims to reduce ambiguity, avoid unnecessary disruption, and make the transition workable in real airport operations.
Why Do We Need CUSS 2, and Why Now?
The timing makes sense. Common Use isn’t just for check-in anymore. It’s bag drop, self-service, new devices and new touchpoints – all of which need a foundation that can evolve faster, integrate more easily, and stay secure as requirements change. IATA aims to make that evolution possible in a more flexible, web-native way, while strengthening the standards that keep deployments consistent across different environments.
When Is It Happening?
There isn’t a single “switch-over day.” In fact, IATA is explicit that the deprecation of CUSS 1 does not mean airline applications immediately stop functioning. It only means that no further updates or new functionality will be provided under CUSS 1. Enhancements will only be applied to CUSS 2.
Where Do I Start?
The most useful place to start is early alignment.
Talk to your internal stakeholders early. Talk to your airlines, airport teams and suppliers early. Not to rush a migration, but to reduce uncertainty – so everyone is working from the same assumptions about what’s changing, what the critical dependencies are, and what “readiness” means in your environment. It also gives you time to coordinate certification and testing sensibly.
How Can SITA Help?
We at SITA can help you make the transition and meet the standards. We have the industry’s largest Common Use footprint across more than 400 airports, so we are the industry partner helping customers align, plan, and move at the right pace. We offer airports and airlines a route forward that avoids duplication, keeps commitments stable, and makes the change feel predictable in live operations.
Why? So that you can turn CUSS 2 into something practical and deliverable at scale, without unnecessary disruption. Clear communication at every step, from early decisions through to delivery.
Yes, CUSS 2 is a major shift. But it doesn’t need to feel like a cliff edge. With IATA’s phased roadmap – and the right planning and partner – it becomes a steady, workable move forward, ready for the next era of passenger processing.
FAQ
What Is CUSS 2?
CUSS 2 is the next generation of Common Use Self-Service technology. It retains the core principle of allowing multiple airlines to share self-service resources while introducing newer technologies, improved security, broader device support, and a foundation that is easier to extend with future capabilities.
Why Is the Industry Moving from CUSS 1 to CUSS 2?
The scope of Common Use has expanded beyond traditional check-in kiosks to include bag drop, self-service processes, and new passenger touchpoints. CUSS 2 is designed to provide a more flexible, secure, and web-native platform that can evolve alongside changing operational and passenger requirements.
When Will the Transition to CUSS 2 Happen?
The transition will not happen on a single switch-over date. The IATA CUSS Task Force has agreed that the cutover to CUSS 2 begins at the end of 2026. The migration is intended to be phased, allowing the industry to transition in a coordinated manner.
What Happens When CUSS 1 Is Deprecated?
Deprecation of CUSS 1 does not mean existing airline applications will stop functioning. It means that no further updates, enhancements, or new functionality will be developed for CUSS 1. Future innovation will be focused on CUSS 2.
What Should Airports and Airlines Do to Prepare for CUSS 2?
The best starting point is early alignment. Airports and airlines should engage internal stakeholders, airline partners, airport teams, and suppliers to build a shared understanding of timelines, dependencies, testing requirements, certification needs, and what readiness means within their operating environment. This early coordination can help make the transition smoother and more predictable.
This article was originally published by SITA.
