PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1727745
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1727745
Airport operations encompass the management of daily activities at airports, including passenger handling, baggage management, air traffic control, security, and ground services. These operations ensure the seamless, safe, and efficient functioning of airport facilities, facilitating the movement of passengers and aircraft while adhering to operational standards and regulatory requirements.
The key platforms in airport operations include hardware, software, and services. Hardware comprises essential physical systems such as security scanners, baggage handling equipment, and communication devices, all of which contribute to operational efficiency and safety. Airport operations cover a wide range of activities, including terminal infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, passenger screening, catering and quick-service restaurants, the adoption of smart technologies, baggage screening, aircraft maintenance, and repair and overhaul. Airports are categorized by size into class A, class B, class C, and class D, encompassing commercial service airports, cargo service airports, reliever airports, and general aviation airports.
The airport operations market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides airport operations market statistics, including the airport operations industry's global market size, regional shares, competitors with a airport operations market share, detailed airport operations market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the airport operations industry. This airport operations market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The airport operations market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $6.53 billion in 2024 to $7.21 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the rising global demand for air travel, an increase in airline fleet sizes, the expansion of international trade and cargo, airport infrastructure developments, government investments in airport modernization, and the emergence of low-cost carriers driving higher passenger volumes.
The airport operations market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $10.62 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%. The projected growth during the forecast period can be attributed to the increasing adoption of smart technologies for operational efficiency, growing passenger traffic, the expansion of e-commerce driving air cargo demand, rising investments in airport infrastructure modernization, and the continued growth of low-cost carriers making air travel more accessible. Key trends expected during this period include the adoption of biometric authentication for seamless passenger processing, AI-driven predictive maintenance for aircraft and infrastructure, the implementation of IoT-enabled smart baggage tracking systems, the deployment of advanced air traffic management systems for improved efficiency, and the integration of blockchain for secure data sharing and cargo tracking.
The growing number of air travelers is expected to drive the expansion of the airport operations market. Passenger traffic refers to the movement of individuals traveling by air, land, or sea, measured by the number of people transported over a specific period. This increase is fueled by factors such as economic growth, rising travel demand, affordable airfares, and improved connectivity. As passenger traffic rises, airports require efficient operations to handle services such as check-ins, security, baggage handling, and infrastructure management. In January 2025, the Airports Council International (ACI), a Canada-based organization representing airport authorities, reported that global passenger traffic is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, reaching 9.5 billion in 2024, surpassing 12 billion by 2030, and doubling to 19.5 billion by 2042 compared to 2024 figures. This increasing demand is contributing to the expansion of airport operations.
Companies in the airport operations market are focusing on technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and improve passenger flow. AI enables machines to simulate human intelligence, allowing them to learn, analyze, and make decisions. In December 2024, GMR Airports Limited, an India-based construction company, introduced an AI-powered digital twin platform at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. This platform integrates real-time data from airside, landside, and terminal operations into a single system, utilizing AI, real-time analytics, and IoT technology. The goal is to optimize decision-making, enhance operations, and improve the passenger experience by reducing congestion, minimizing delays, and strengthening security measures.
In January 2025, AviAlliance GmbH, a Germany-based airport management company, acquired AGS Airports Limited for $1.93 billion (£1.53 billion). This acquisition is part of AviAlliance's strategy to expand its airport portfolio, apply its expertise in airport development, enhance air connectivity, and improve passenger services while supporting local communities. AGS Airports Limited, a UK-based airport operator, specializes in the development, construction, and maintenance of airport facilities designed for passenger travel.
Major players in the airport operations market are Siemens AG, Honeywell International Inc., Collins Aerospace, Thales S.A., Adani Enterprises Limited, AECOM Technology Corporation, Envoy Air Inc., Amadeus IT Group SA, Aena S.M.E. S.A., Daifuku Co. Ltd., Fraport AG, SABRE GLBL INC., Royal Schiphol Group N.V., Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques SC., Flughafen Zurich AG, Fluke Corporation, TAV Airports Holding A.S., Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ADELTE GROUP S.L, Das Handling LTD, GMR Airports Limited, AviAlliance GmbH, and The Manchester Airports Group plc.
North America was the largest region in the airport operations market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in airport operations report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the airport operations market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The airport operations market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as air traffic management, ground handling service, immigration and customs, and cargo services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The airport operations market also includes sales of passenger transport vehicles, traffic management systems, boarding bridges, and automated gates. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Airport Operations Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on airport operations market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for airport operations ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The airport operations market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.