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Global Airport Operation - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Shawn McGrath Shawn McGrath New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 H4912-GL

Revenue

$194.4bn

2024

$194.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

2m

Businesses

31,670

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Global Airport Operation industry analysis

Airport operators have faced complex operating conditions in recent years. The pandemic completely disrupted operations in 2020, causing revenue losses of more than 50.0% in that year alone. As vaccinations began globally dispensing, air travel recommenced, growing substantially in recent years, but not enough to reach pre-pandemic levels. As a result, global airport revenue has been shrinking at a CAGR of 4.0% over the past five years and is expected to reach $194.4 billion in 2024 when revenue will rise an estimated 5.8%, continuing to benefit from rising travel activity.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue growth will slow in the coming years. Passenger recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has mostly been completed, which will cause diminishing revenue expansion.
  • Airlines represent the largest market segment for global airport operators. Commercial airlines must pay many different leasing fees depending on the state and scope of operations.
  • Robust train systems limit Europe’s share of establishments. Europeans have many different options for travel, resulting in air travel accounting for a small share of overall means of transport used.
  • Internal competition is low for airport operators. Many metropolitan areas are served by a small number of airports., leaving little room for additional competitors.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $194.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Passenger traffic has returned to pre-pandemic levels

  • Global tourist arrivals are forecast to exceed 2019 levels in 2024, as the long road back from a steep decrease in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been completed.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Global Airport Operation
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Demand has settled below pre-pandemic levels

  • The COVID-19 pandemic is now in the rear-view mirror, as global tourist arrivals have exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 2024. While revenue is forecast to remain below pre-pandemic levels, recovery is mostly complete, as growth is forecast to slow in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Global Airport Operation

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Groupe ADP
6,366.3
N/A
N/A
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
4,838.4
N/A
N/A
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
3,310.5
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Global Airport Operation
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Aeronautical services: passengers, Aeronautical services: airlines and Nonaeronautical services: parking and ground transportation. Aeronautical services: passengers is the largest segment of the Global Airport Operation.

Trends and Insights

Passenger charges are the largest product segment for airport operators

  • Charges imposed on airline passengers for using aeronautical services represent less than one-fifth of revenue for airport operators. This includes charges for screening passengers, maintaining security and organizing arrival and departure schedules.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Global Airport Operation industry includes businesses that operate international, national or civil airports or public flying fields. It also includes operators that support airports, except special food services contractors, offering aircraft refueling, aircraft parking, hangar space rental, air traffic control services, baggage handling services, cargo handling services and other services. A fixed-base operator commonly provides these services.

What's included in this industry?

Operation and maintenance of airports and runwaysAir traffic controlAircraft refueling, taxi, parking and rental of hangar space Baggage and cargo handling services

Companies

Groupe ADPFraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services WorldwideThe Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FIXED-BASE OPERATOR (FBO)PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES (PFC)GREENHOUSE GAS

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue growth will slow in the coming years. Passenger recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has mostly been completed, which will cause diminishing revenue expansion.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Airlines represent the largest market segment for global airport operators. Commercial airlines must pay many different leasing fees depending on the state and scope of opera...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Robust train systems limit Europe’s share of establishments. Europeans have many different options for travel, resulting in air travel accounting for a small share of overall...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Business Locations Charts
  • Share of global output by region in 2024
  • Share of population compared to output in each region in 2024
  • Data tables
  • Share of global output by region in 2024
  • Detailed analysis
  • Geographic spread of the industry across Global, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition is low for airport operators. Many metropolitan areas are served by a small number of airports., leaving little room for additional competitors.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major airport operators. They are often limited to one area, which limits market share.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Groupe ADP's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Groupe ADP, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Capital intensity is very high. Airports require a large space and many capital outlays, including baggage equipment and many vehicles.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Depreciation costs are massive for airport operators. There is a large amount of infrastructure and equipment required to efficiently run an airport.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Global Airport Operation industry in Global in 2024?

The market size of the Global Airport Operation industry in Global is $194.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Global Airport Operation industry in 2024?

There are 31,670 businesses in the Global Airport Operation industry in Global, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Global Airport Operation industry in Global grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Global Airport Operation industry in Global has been declining at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Global Airport Operation industry in Global over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Global Airport Operation industry in Global is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Global Airport Operation market in Global?

The biggest companies operating in the Global Airport Operation market in Global are Groupe ADP, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

What does the Global Airport Operation in Global include?

Operation and maintenance of airports and runways and Air traffic control are part of the Global Airport Operation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Airport Operation in Global?

The company holding the most market share in Global is Groupe ADP.

How competitive is the Global Airport Operation industry in Global?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Global Airport Operation industry in Global.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Global Airlines

Complementors

  • Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing
  • Global Cargo Airlines
  • Global Travel Agency Services

International industries

  • Airport Operations in the US
  • Airport Operations in Australia
  • Airport Operations in New Zealand
  • Airports in the UK
  • Airports in China

View all industries in Global

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources globally include:

  • United Nations Comtrade
  • Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
  • World Bank

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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