Airport Operations Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate airports for commercial and general aviation and provide support services such as air traffic control, aircraft fueling and maintenance, baggage and cargo handling, ferrying aircraft, and rental of hangar space. Major companies include Aeroports de Paris (France), Fraport and Lufthansa Technik (both based in Germany), Heathrow (the UK), ST Engineering (Singapore), and Swissport (Switzerland).

The global airport operations market is forecast to reach about $13 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% between 2022 and 2030, according to Custom Market Insights (CMI). European airports generate the most revenue. Industry growth is expected to come from airports located in the emerging markets of Asia/Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The US airport operations and aviation services industry includes about 6,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $30 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for airport operations and aviation services is driven by business and leisure air travel and the size and age of aircraft fleets. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in purchasing. Small companies can compete effectively in hometown markets. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 60% of industry revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major services include aircraft maintenance and repair (65% of industry revenue), fixed-base-operator (FBO) services (about 20%), and airport operation and ...