Smart Airports Market: Growth Analysis, Trends and Upcoming Scope

Posted by Avinash on March 24th, 2021

The global smart airport market size is expected to reach USD 25.09 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10.7%. according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth can be accredited to increased penetration of automated and connected airport processes, such as self-service check-ins, smart baggage drop, and smart luggage tracking.

Moreover, the rising demand for various technologically advanced non-aeronautical systems, communication systems, and security systems such as electronic bag tags is expected to boost the growth over the forecast period.

Emerging technologies and devices, such as smart access control systems, fingerprint readers, and smart card technology are being increasingly implemented by airports for enhancing the overall passenger experience. Additionally, with the introduction of smartphone-based airport applications, passengers are now able to utilize real-time information, such as gate number, arrival time, direction to airport, check-in line, and flight booking.

Companies across the globe are investing heavily on IT and digital technology to effectively streamline their business processes and provide value-added services to customers. A majority of airports are now focusing on passenger self-service solutions and are planning to implement new technologies, such as the adoption of Bluetooth-enabled beacons to provide connected airport solutions.

Contemporary airport operation and business models have led to an explosive growth of the airline industry. Rising concerns of industry participants pertaining to increased competitiveness have led to a shift in focus towards a customer-centric and data-driven approach to enhance operational efficiency. Moreover, with the emergence of Airport 3.0, airports worldwide are seeking to leverage the benefits of emerging technologies with advanced capabilities.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

• Airports across emerging economies are increasingly adopting a smart airport approach by implementing innovative technologies, such as smart robots, self-check-in kiosks, beacon services, predictive analysis, and border control automation solutions
• Airports are increasingly expanding their airside operations by providing various services, such as in-wallet scanning, and geolocation and coordination of aircraft with real-time information on landing
• Airports across developed regions, such as the U.S., have now started providing automated parking facilities, in order to capture a higher revenue share of the non-aeronautical operations segment
• Asia-Pacific is estimated to emerge as the fastest-growing region over the forecast period, owing to a steep increase in passenger traffic coupled with upgrading and implementation of new technologies in airport communication and security systems
• Major countries across Europe are adopting Bluetooth-based beacon technology to provide a personalized experience to passengers, such as indoor wayfinding and nearby promotional offers, based on data collected regarding the passengers’ spending and usage habits
• Key Players include in the smart airport Market are Amadeus IT Group S.A., Cisco Systems, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Siemens AG, and IBM. Other companies include Sabre Corporation, Thales Group, T-Systems International GmbH, and QinetiQ Group Plc.

The introduction of various devices with innovative features, such as customer identification through a unique heart beat pattern with the help of biodynamic and biometric signatures, and the deployment of artificial intelligence technology across airports, are supporting the management and control of large airport databases.

An emerging trend in the industry is the development and commercialization of new intelligent technologies that provide a digital ecosystem, such as automated check-in, flight book management, and baggage and document check. Airports across the world are increasingly adopting technology-enabled devices, such as smart luggage system and on-site application of Internet of Things (IoT) to transform customer experiences.

The industry is leveraging the benefits of new technologies such as Quick Response (QR) codes, Near-Field Communication (NFC), Augmented Reality (AR), and beacons to enhance the automation of various airport processes. Moreover, the growing demand for biometric devices at airports is creating new opportunities for market growth over the forecast period.

The various technologies analyzed in the report include security systems; communication systems; passenger, cargo, & baggage ground handling control; air/ground traffic control, and others. The communication systems segment is presumed to witness the fastest growth over the next eight years.

At present, airports are accumulating passenger information and are creating their database to provide various value-added benefits to passengers, such as information about the nearest retail locations, live updates on flight status, traffic and parking updates, guidance for check-in and baggage drop, directions for immigration check, and live updates on bus and taxi transportation services.

An emerging trend in the smart airports market is the development of queue management systems that utilize existing CCTV systems and predict the waiting time in check-in areas, security checkpoints, taxi lanes, and passport control. The technology counts the number of passengers captured in the CCTV cameras, calculate the waiting time, and predict the time lost by a passenger in queue.

International organizations and industry associations across the world are focusing their efforts on the enhancement of passenger travel experience and are moving toward a smart airport approach. Companies in this domain have now started developing smart airport security solutions to provide an advanced scanning technology using face and eye recognition systems.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research is an India & U.S. based market research and consulting company headquartered in San Francisco, which offers syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. The company’s rich database includes in-depth analysis across a range of industries including chemicals, materials, energy, healthcare, and technology, among others.