Market Trends of America Airport Ground Handling Systems Industry
Aircraft Handling Systems Segment to Exhibit Significant Growth in the Coming Years
The aircraft handling systems include refuelers, tugs and tractors, lavatory service vehicles, deicers, ground power units, pre-conditioned air units, fuel trucks, and other ground handling systems in airports. The demand for aircraft handling systems is driven by the increasing aircraft movements in various major airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, O'Hare International Airport Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Harry Reid International Airport. In addition, the rising air passenger traffic in the Americas is also acting as a significant driver for this segment's growth. For instance, in 2022 in North America, there were 4.4 million aircraft movements in various major airports. This 4.4 million was a growth of 12% compared to 2021.
Additionally, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allocated a budget to various airports in the United States for the procurement of ground power units (GPUs), pre-conditioned air (PCA) units, and de-icing equipment. For instance, for FY-2023 under the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program, the FAA has allocated USD 13 million for the procurement of 57 PCAs and 61 GPUs across various gates of Boise, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Philadelphia International, Reno-Tahoe International, and William P Hobby airports in North America.
Furthermore, the current trend of using GSE with low emissions rates and creating green airports has been gaining popularity over the years. For instance, in December 2022 Los Angeles World Airports took delivery of its first Class 8 heavy-duty electric vehicle, a Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV). The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) will be used to move paving equipment, transport construction materials and pull heavy equipment at the airport’s worksites. Such development of new equipment, as well as investments into procurement of aircraft handling equipment, is anticipated to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period.
The United States to Exhibit the Highest Growth Rate During the Forecast Period
The United States is witnessing a rise in air passenger travel and the country is investing heavily in the development and implementation of digitalized technologies for baggage, cargo and passenger handling. For instance, in 2022, the number of air passengers travelling to or from the US was close to 1.04 billion, a huge leap from nearly 889 million passengers in 2017.
Additionally, the main focus of airports in the region is to reduce the operational lead time and facility expansion. On this note, in July 2022, John F. Kennedy International Airport started the development of New Terminal One with an investment of USD 95 billion. The project aims to redevelop the airport, with the creation of unified terminal buildings that would allow easier passenger movements with flight connections and improve transport links.
Furthermore, the various airlines and airports are moving to achieve the goal of net zero emission by reducing the CO2 emissions in the airports. In September 2023, United Airlines added two electric tugs to their fleet at Los Angeles International Airport, thus making it the first and only airport to have them in use currently. Overall, the aforementioned developments, factors, and instances in the region are driving the market growth for airport ground handling systems in the country.
