Airports across Europe and beyond are quietly entering the market for new Safety Management Systems, with several operators signalling that their existing platforms are reaching end‑of‑life or no longer meeting modern operational and cybersecurity expectations.

While the data is emerging, OneReg says the pattern is becoming increasingly visible through tenders, RFPs, and conversations with airport safety teams. Based on what airports are telling OneReg directly, dozens – and potentially hundreds – of operators may find themselves needing to transition to new Safety Management Systems in 2026.

Clinton Cardozo, CEO at OneReg, says the trend is anecdotal but consistent, and points to a deeper issue: many legacy systems were never designed for today’s operational, regulatory, or cyber‑risk environment.

“We’re seeing a noticeable uptick in airports approaching us because they suddenly need to replace their Safety Management System – often on much shorter timelines than expected.  While the reasons vary, the pattern is clear: more airports are finding themselves dependent on legacy safety management platforms that are reaching end‑of‑life or no longer meeting modern operational and cybersecurity expectations.

“For airports, replacing a safety management system is not a small lift.  These platforms sit at the heart of safety oversight – they underpin reporting, investigations, risk assessments, audits, and regulatory confidence.  A transition affects every department, touches thousands of data points, and requires careful migration to avoid operational disruption.  When airports are forced into this process unexpectedly, the impact can be significant.”

Cardozo adds that some of the older systems now being retired were built decades ago, long before today’s cyber‑threat landscape or the need for real‑time operational intelligence. As a result, airports are increasingly questioning 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 full system transitions, sometimes with only a few months’ notice,” he said.  “What we’re hearing consistently is that airports don’t just want a like‑for‑like replacement.  They’re rethinking their safety oversight capability – 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 swap.  The right platform should reduce complexity, strengthen resilience, and give leaders clearer intelligence about emerging risks.  Airports deserve systems that will serve them for the next decade, not just the next audit cycle.”