Air Traffic Control Equipment - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Air Traffic Control Equipment Market size is estimated at USD 9.95 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 12.28 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.30% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

During COVID-19, many countries put travel restrictions in place, which caused a significant drop in the number of people who flew. Hence the number of passengers on international routes also declined. For instance, South Korea's air passenger volume decreased by 7.7% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Japan's aviation sector also witnessed a significant impact; Narita International Airport in Tokyo saw 5.2 million passengers in 2021, 50% fewer than in 2020. Nevertheless, when international flight restrictions were lifted across most countries, air traffic gradually improved and is still growing, necessitating the demand for new automated air traffic management systems as airports look to accommodate and operate a subsequent increase in aircraft traffic daily.

The rapidly growing air passenger traffic necessitated the development of new airports to serve new routes and the modernization of existing ones to facilitate the seamless movement of aircraft operating in the airspace. Thus, an increase in the number of airports in emerging economies and the need for efficient airspace management have forced airports and airlines to invest in air traffic control technologies. For instance, Airbus, an aircraft manufacturer, forecasted that the number of commercial aircraft in operation would double in the next 20 years to 48,000 worldwide. Such developments are anticipated to trigger demand for air traffic control equipment during the forecast period.

Air Traffic Control Equipment Market Trends

Communication Equipment Segment will Showcase Significant Growth During the Forecast Period

The communication equipment segment accounted for the largest share of the market. A large percentage of the segment has been primarily attributed to the fact that communication between pilots and ground control operators is essential for an orderly flow of information regarding aircraft for air traffic management. Earlier, voice communication systems, which involved the transmission of information between air traffic controllers and pilots, were primarily used to manage air traffic. However, these conventional voice communication systems cannot function effectively in congested airspace, which has propelled the need to develop advanced communication equipment for air traffic control, attracting huge investments.

Furthermore, increasing expenditure on airport construction and modernization, rising spending on the aviation sector, and the adoption of advanced communication equipment for air traffic control all propel market growth. Thus, this segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific Market to Grow with the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

The Asia-Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing market over the forecast period. Factors such as increased air travel in the area due to a reduction in airfares are also increasing the affordability of air travel in the region. A keen focus on free and fair trade agreements, the implementation of stringent aviation safety regulations, and airport infrastructure developments have been driving the growth of the market in the region.

Over the next few years, there will likely be more airport construction projects, which will help the air traffic management market. For example, China had a new round of airport building and expansion projects in January 2022. The fourth phase of growing the Shanghai Pudong International Airport has already been initiated and is expected to increase its annual passenger handling capacity to 130 million passengers by 2030. In East China's Fujian Province, Xiamen has started new airport construction in Xiang'an. As of now, eight construction projects are underway in Xiangan, with a total investment of USD 9.76 billion.

By the end of 2022, the Delhi airport was to get a major makeover that was likely to cost more than USD 1.3 billion. Expansions included an upgrade of the existing Terminal 1, building a fourth runway, and other development work, aiming to double the airport's capacity to 40 million passengers a year from the current 20 million currently.With the completion of this project, Delhi airport will likely become the first in the country to have four runways. Such airport expansion and new construction projects are projected to drive the market's growth during the forecast period.

Air Traffic Control Equipment Industry Overview

The air traffic control equipment market is moderately consolidated in nature with few players holding significant shares in the market. Some of the prominent players in the market are THALES, SITA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., INDRA SISTEMAS, S.A., and Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

Moreover, joint ventures from developing economies with air traffic management companies are expected to help the players extend their market presence. For instance, in March 2022, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) entered into a joint venture with Defence PSU company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the development of indigenous systems for the surface movement of aircraft at airports and air traffic management in the country. Such joint ventures are expected to help the players to further increase their dominance in the market.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support