“Hundreds of airports may need to replace their safety management systems by 2026,” says CEO of OneReg | News
Airports across Europe and beyond are quietly entering the market for new safety management systems, with several operators reporting that their existing platforms are reaching end of life or no longer meeting modern operational and cyber security expectations.
As the data emerges, OneReg says the pattern is becoming increasingly visible through tenders, RFPs and conversations with airport security teams. Based on what airports tell OneReg directly, dozens – and possibly hundreds – of operators may need to switch to new safety management systems by 2026.
Clinton Cardozo, CEO of OneReg, says the trend is anecdotal but consistent, pointing to a deeper problem: Many legacy systems were never designed for today’s operational, regulatory or cyber risk environment.
“We are seeing a noticeable increase in the number of airports approaching us because they suddenly need to replace their safety management system – often at much shorter notice than expected. While the reasons vary, the pattern is clear: more airports are finding themselves reliant on outdated safety management platforms that are reaching end of life or no longer meet modern operational and cyber security expectations.
“For airports, replacing a safety management system is no small feat. These platforms are at the core of safety oversight: they support reporting, investigations, risk assessments, audits and regulatory confidence. A transition impacts every department, touches thousands of data points and requires careful migration to avoid operational disruptions. When airports are unexpectedly forced into this process, the impact can be significant.”
Cardozo adds that some of the older systems now being retired were built decades ago, long before the current cyber threat landscape or the need for real-time operational intelligence. As a result, airports are increasingly wondering whether their current platforms are still fit for purpose:
“This is creating a real moment of disruption across the industry. Airports that had planned incremental upgrades are now having to accelerate entire system transitions, sometimes with just a few months’ notice,” he said. “What we consistently hear is that airports don’t just want a like-for-like replacement. They are rethinking their security oversight capabilities. They are moving away from fragmented, acquisition-built systems and toward unified, cloud-native platforms that provide real-time visibility, stronger cybersecurity and cross-functional insight.
“For any airport facing an unexpected safety management system transition in 2026, our advice is simple: treat this as a strategic opportunity, not just a technical trade-off. The right platform should reduce complexity, strengthen resilience and give leaders clearer information about emerging risks. Airports deserve systems that will serve them for the next decade, not just the next audit cycle.”
