Ground Handling Services Market Report 2025

The ground handling services market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $27.59 billion in 2024 to $29.65 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to air travel expansion, airline deregulation, airport infrastructure development, globalization of air travel, security and safety regulations.

The ground handling services market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $39.51 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to environmental sustainability focus, shifts in airline business models, airline fleet expansion, globalization of air travel, airport infrastructure investments. Major trends in the forecast period include digitalization and automation, personalized services, sustainability initiatives, enhanced security measures, adaptation to new airline business models, data analytics and predictive maintenance.

The rising demand for air freight cargo is anticipated to drive growth in the ground handling services market moving forward. Air freight cargo refers to the shipment process where goods are transported via chartered or scheduled air carriers. Changing consumer preferences and the expanding e-commerce industry have fueled the demand for air freight cargo, due to its fast and same-day delivery services. This mode of transportation requires a reliable and quick turnaround handling process, increasing the need for airport ground and cargo handling services to minimize halt times, thereby reducing emissions at airports. In August 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Canada-based trade association, reported that in July 2024, global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), rose by 13.6% compared to July 2023, with international operations seeing a 14.3% increase. Asia-Pacific airlines saw the highest demand growth, reaching 17.6% year-over-year. Consequently, the rising demand for air freight cargo will drive the airport ground and cargo handling services market.

The growth in air passenger traffic is expected to further propel the ground handling services market in the coming years. Air passenger traffic refers to the total number of individuals traveling by air on commercial flights within a given timeframe. Ground handling services are crucial for maintaining a smooth and efficient flow of air passenger traffic, contributing to operational excellence, passenger satisfaction, comfort, convenience, baggage handling, cost efficiency, and safety within the aviation sector. For example, in October 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Canada-based airline trade association, noted that by August 2023, traffic for Asia-Pacific airlines had surged by 98.5% over August 2022, cementing the region’s leadership in the airline sector. The load factor increased by 5.5 percentage points to 84.2%, with capacity growing by 85.5%. In the same period, European airline traffic grew 13.6% over August 2022. Thus, increasing air passenger traffic is driving the growth of the ground handling services market.

Technological innovation is a prominent trend in the ground handling services market, with major players focusing on creating innovative equipment technologies, such as electric material handling equipment, to strengthen their market position. For instance, in May 2022, Linde Material Handling, a Germany-based manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, introduced electric heavy-duty forklift trucks with load capacities ranging from 10 to 18 tonnes. This innovative truck series, built on the eight-ton range, features double drive, double lifting hydraulics, two batteries, and scaled pumps.

Major companies are engaging in partnerships to advance product development and fortify their market positions. Collaborations in this sector promote innovation, harness complementary expertise, and expedite the creation and commercialization of advanced solutions through the consolidation of resources and capabilities. For instance, in January 2022, Synaptic Aviation, a US-based AI-technology company, joined forces with Unifi Inc., a US-based manufacturing company, to introduce a new artificial intelligence (AI) solution enhancing visibility into airport ground operations. This partnership aims to revolutionize ground operations and elevate the overall customer experience in the general aviation industry. Synaptic Aviation's AI technology monitors numerous aircraft, providing real-time critical operational data, including average turn-around time, gate usage, foreign object damage prevention walks, ground power unit connection times, and more. The rapid results produced by the AI technology offer vital data for optimizing activities and management, benefiting airlines, air cargo, and ground handling organizations.

In August 2022, Alliance Ground International (AGI), a US-based provider of airline cargo handling services, acquired Airport Terminal Services (ATS) for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition assists both companies in increasing their presence at the airport terminal and on the passenger side of the business. ATS supports AGI in maximizing customer service, streamlining operations, and enhancing value for all clients. Airport Terminal Services (ATS) is a US-based company operating in the ground handling services market.

Major companies operating in the ground handling services market include Baltic Ground Services, Dubai National Air Transport Association, Swiss Aviation Group AG, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), JBT Corporation, Swissport International Ltd., Singapore Airport Terminal Services Limited, TAV Havalimanları Holding A.Ş., Groundforce Handling Portugal, Aviapartner Group NV, Goldair Handling SA, Airport Terminal Services Inc., Mallaghan Engineering Ltd, Menzies Aviation plc, Skyplan Services Ltd., Belau Transfer and Terminal Company, AFS Aviation Services Limited, AN Aviation Services Co. Ltd., Proground GmbH, Airline Services Ltd., Jet Aviation Business Jets AG, Çelebi Havacılık Holding A.Ş., SAS Ground Handling AB.

North America was the largest region in the ground handling services market in 2024. The regions covered in the ground handling services market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the ground handling services market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Ground handling services encompass a range of assistance provided to facilitate an aircraft's ground repositioning, preparation, and completion of a flight, including customer service and ramp service activities. The primary goal of ground handling services is to enhance the speed, efficiency, and precision while reducing the turnaround time of airplanes, thereby improving the airport's ability to offer customer service.

The primary types of ground handling services include ground handling, passenger ground handling, ramp handling, and others. The range of flight and passenger services provided during an aircraft's layover at an airport falls under ground handling services. These services are applicable to both international and domestic airports and are utilized in civil and military applications.

The ground handling services market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides ground handling services market statistics, including ground handling services industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a ground handling services market share, detailed ground handling services market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the ground handling services industry. This ground handling services market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The ground handling services market includes revenues earned by entities providing refueling aircraft services, towing aircraft, cleaning, marshalling and parking. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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