Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Market size was valued at over USD 5.9 billion in 2022 and is estimated to register a CAGR of over 5% driven by increasing passenger & cargo traffic.

Ground Support Equipment Market Size 

The size of the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Market reached more than USD 5.9 billion in 2022 and is poised to register over 5% CAGR triggered by rising passenger & cargo traffic.

Since there are more individuals & commodities being carried by air, the aviation sector will require a larger fleet of airplanes along with an increased range of GSE for different ground operations. These operations consist of servicing of airplanes, boarding of passengers, baggage handling, and maintenance. Air carriers and freight operators regularly update & increase their fleet size; for this, there is a need for more GSE to manage higher numbers of aircraft.

To obtain major market trends

Ground Support Equipment (GSE) are the sophisticated machinery & tools utilized at airfields and aircraft facilities for maintaining, servicing, and supporting planes during ground maintenance activities like boarding passengers, dealing with cargo, maintenance, and ground power feed.

Ground Support Equipment Market Report Attributes
Report Attribute Details
Base Year 2022
Ground Support Equipment Market Size in 2022 USD 2.9 Billion
Forecast Period 2023 to 2032
Forecast Period 2023 to 2032 CAGR 5%
2032 Value Projection USD 9 Billion
Historical Data for
2018 to 2022
No. of Pages
250
Tables, Charts & Figures
310
Segments covered
Equipment, type, power source, and application
Growth Drivers
Rapid airport expansion and the increase in modernization
Growing air cargo operations
Passenger traffic growth and the growing air travel industry
Increased emphasis on the security & safety of airports
Pitfalls & Challenges
High initial costs
Infrastructure constraints
What are the growth opportunities in this market?

GSE may be capital-intensive, and it is difficult for airlines and airports with limited budgets to invest in new equipment. Specialized equipment, including aircraft tugs, passenger boarding bridges, and deicing units, has high purchase prices. The high cost may act as a deterrent to the operators, particularly those who are small or operate on tight budgets. It might result in the continued utilization of older equipment, which could be less efficient or not eco-friendly.

COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic had several effects on the ground support equipment market. Disruptions in supply chains such as delays in delivering essential components impacted manufacturing & maintenance activities. Lockdowns & restrictions impacted manpower availability, impeding production & maintenance activities. Budgetary restrictions and the redirection of funds towards the pandemic relief efforts also influenced defense budgets, potentially lowering expenditures on new GSE.

Ground Support Equipment Market Trends
The sector is facing significant trends due to the developments in the aerospace and aviation sectors. With environmental sustainability in mind, there has been an increasing need for electric & hybrid GSE to curb emissions and operating expenses. Digitalization and integration of IoT are improving GSE monitoring & maintenance. The sector is seeing the demand for autonomous & remote-controlled equipment increase in order to improve safety levels and cut labor expenses. The growth in the industry is being fueled by growth in airports and airline fleets across the globe, which is driving the demand for advanced GSE to manage more passenger & cargo volumes.

Ground Support Equipment Market Analysis
Discover more about the most important segments defining this market

As far as equipment that makes airports operate efficiently goes, there are two broad categoriesfixed and mobile. Fixed equipment stays in one place, but mobile equipment can move around. And guess what? The mobile equipment market is growing like crazy! It’s expected to keep getting bigger and better over the next decade. Why is mobile equipment so popular? It’s all about being flexible and efficient. Think about it. When you own mobile equipment, such as carts to transport luggage, tugs to transport planes, and trucks to transport fuel, you can service several planes and perform various tasks throughout the airport. This is much easier to handle with changing flight times and various planes. And then there’s mobile equipment, which is just the perfect fit for how the airport business is shifting towards being more flexible and responsive, particularly after all the pandemonium with the pandemic. With mobile equipment, airports can easily adapt to shifting requirements and maintain operations running smoothly.

When it comes to who employs ground support equipment, the market can be divided into two broad categoriesbusinesses such as airlines and the military. It’s commercial airlines which held the industry in 2022, taking an impressive 85% stake. Why that? Well, there has been an increase in traveling globally, particularly in Third World nations. This has led to a spike in commercial airline activity. As a result, to match increased flights and traveling individuals, air carriers require modern and efficient support equipment on ground. Airlines are also trying to make their operations run smoother and cut down on the time it takes to turn a plane around and get it ready for its next flight. And with all the talk about climate change, airlines are also looking for electric and eco-friendly equipment. This trend is especially popular in the commercial sector.

North America is emerging as a center for airport equipment improvement. Its congested aviation sector, with prominent airlines and airports, is a major reason for this. The region has invested heavily in modernizing fleets, increasing infrastructure, and seeking cleaner, greener alternatives. These stringent environmental regulations are driving the adoption of more eco-friendly airport equipment. And with its well-established manufacturing base, North America is now at the center for creating and developing advanced airport gear. The United States is primarily responsible for fuelling demand for this new technology, owing to its extensive infrastructure of airports and airlines. As an illustration, in 2022, American Airlines allocated $200 million towards purchasing new airport gear, comprising electric tow tractor and pushback tugs.

Ground Support Equipment Market Share

The major players operating in the ground support equipment market are

• Aero Specialities Inc.
• Air+MAK Industries Inc.
• ATEC Inc
• Cavotec SA
• Curtis Instrument Inc.
• Enersys
• Gate GSE
• ITW GSE
• JBT Corporation
• Rheinmetall AG
• Sinfonia Technology Co. Ltd.
• Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc.
• Tronair Inc.
• Unitron, LP
• Weihan Gungtai Airport Equipment