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Last Updated: Apr 25, 2025 | Study Period: 2024-2030
Ground support equipment or the Airport Vehicles at airports is used to service planes in between flights. Refuelling, towing aeroplanes or luggage/freight carts, loading luggage/freight, conveying people, loading potable water, removing sewage, loading food, de-icing aeroplanes, and firefighting are among the services provided.
Deploying new electric GSE (eGSE) technologies is a potential prospect, in part because buyers are often big, technologically savvy airlines, contractors, or airports with centralised procurement and maintenance departments. They're the heavy-duty airport trucks, and while they may appear identical, each one has a particular role at United.
As traffic levels grow, airports expand, surface routes alter, and you, the car driver, are expected to grasp how to navigate the airport safely, you are required to understand how to travel about the airport safely.
Aside from knowing about the various movement regions on the airport, the mix of variations in weather, time of day, and quantity of aircraft traffic increases the danger of error more than before. Airport service vehicles, such as luggage trailers and passenger buses, provide services to aircraft both after they arrive and before they depart. These vehicles' prompt arrivals contribute to the effective use of airport resources.
The Airport Vehicles are designed to assist an aircraft's operations while it is at the airport. GSE includes aeroplane push-back and hook-up, forklifts and lifts, carts, cars, air-conditioning tugs, belt & container loaders, light-duty trucks, and other equipment used for powering, towing, and maintenance.
Furthermore, such equipment allows for passenger handling, luggage management, aircraft mobility, repair, servicing, and maintenance. Many airlines own/operate GSE / vehicles or have full-service leasing from equipment management firms.
| S No | Overview of Development | Development Detailing | Region of Development | Possible Future Outcomes |
| 1 | IndiGo's reduces emissions by 5% via ground support equipment automation | Airline major IndiGo has reduced emissions by about 5 per cent via its ground support equipment automation. Accordingly, IndiGo adopted various solutions in both passenger and freight services such as 'modified baggage BFL for cabin loading', battery swapping by monorail crane, using 10-tonne electrical tug instead of 20-tonne, amongst others. | India | This would enhance better Technologies and production |
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Updates |
| 1 | July 2021 | Louwman Group and CaetanoBus | Louwman Group and CaetanoBus signed a sales agent and maintenance agreement for CaetanoBusâs zero-emission buses e.City Gold and H2. City Gold. This agreement will promote CaetanoBus ZE city buses on the Dutch market. |
| 2 | November 2020 | CVG & ThorDrive | CVG partnered with ThorDrive to bring autonomous vehicle (AV) technology to the airportâs campus. Through a recently enacted airport ordinance, autonomous vehicles and equipment can now operate on airport property. |
| 3 | November 2020 | Siemens Portugal & CaetanoBus | Siemens Portugal partnered with CaetanoBus for electrification in the transport sector including application in logistics infrastructures, like airports. |
| 4 | October 2020 | GATE and HiSERV | GATE GSE welcomed HiSERV, a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) specialist delivering superior quality, high flexibility and fair and transparent pricing, as a new member. |
| 5 | December 2017 | Tronair, Inc. | Tronair, Inc. announced the acquisition of Malabar and DAE, collectively Malabar Holding Company, a key supplier of ground support and maintenance equipment for commercial and military aircraft. |
Global air traffic has been rising due to an increase in the number of individuals choosing to travel by air. Airports have responded by expanding their operations, which has resulted in the installation of additional terminals, gates, passenger service equipment, and other infrastructure.
Each airport gate requires ground support equipment to meet the needs of aircraft parked at the gate or apron. The construction of new airports, as well as the installation of new gates or terminals at existing airports, directly correlates to the need for this technology. The creation of hybrid ground support equipment, new batteries, quick charging ports, and enhanced electric ground support equipment with low power consumption.
The growing need for more environmentally friendly airports is driving the development and integration of low-emission and electric tugs and tractors. To replace traditional fuel-powered tractors and tugs, new battery-powered tugs are being developed. This replacement is expected to stimulate growth.
During the projection period, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to have the largest demand for airport ground support vehicles. Asia's tremendous expansion in the commercial aviation sector in recent decades has positioned the area as the world's biggest and fastest growing. In terms of air passenger traffic, the area is anticipated to increase at the fastest rate.
Airports' current plans to reduce their carbon footprint are generating demand for the integration of advanced technologies such as electric aircraft tugs, automation systems, and augmented reality (AR) glasses for ramp handling operations, which is expected to accelerate market growth in the coming years.
Ground handling firms are increasing their cargo services in airports across the world, creating a demand for modern cargo handling equipment. Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the world's biggest air cargo handler, stated in this respect that the firm, in partnership with Descartes Systems, has provided cargo ULD tracking capabilities.
The Global Airport Vehicles Market can be segmented into following categories for further analysis.
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Updates |
| 1 | April 2021 | ITW GSE | ITW GSE launched a new eGPU family member, 180 kVA, 400 Hz model, to help the industry recover and accelerate the transition into a greener future. The company can now power aircraft from business jets to narrow and wide-body aircraft with emission free battery GPUs. |
| 2 | February 2021 | Vestergaard | Menzies Aviation announced its trial of the Vestergaard Elephant e-BETA, a new electrically operated deicing unit, at Oslo Airport. Initial tests indicated that using the electrically driven Vestergaard Elephant® e-BETA will reduce greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, by 87% per truck each year. |
| 3 | December 2020 | Vestergaard Company | Vestergaard Company announced One Man Drive for the new Elephant MY Lite Open Basket Deicing unit, based on customer request and industry feedback. |
| 4 | May 2020 | ITW GSE | ITW GSE launched its 7400 JetEx 28 VDC battery powered ground power unit. Contrary to other 28 VDC battery GPUs on the market, the 7400 JetEx has a very high battery capacity that allows for days of use before it needs to be recharged. |
| 5 | July 2017 | COBUS | E.COBUS, a fully electric airport bus developed by CaetanoBus in partnership with Siemens, and distributed by its associate COBUS Industries, began its journey towards a new destination: Vancouver Airport, Canada, marking its first foray in North America. |
Airports provide appealing prospects for expanding the usage of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). They are frequently served by dozens of fleets with thousands of cars. Ground service equipment (GSE) like as tugs, tows, and luggage tractors are included in these fleets, as are landside vehicles such as buses, shuttles, taxis, and limos.
Airports are developing as a major source of pollution, accounting for up to 10% of total emissions in some urban areas as federal regulations for industrial sources become more rigorous. The need to enhance air quality is the single most important factor driving the increased deployment of AFVs at airports.
Autonomous vehicles are the new generation technology being implemented within the airport operations and the airport vehicles technology.
In 2018, the IATA identified over 40 application cases for autonomous technology. Self-driving jet bridges, aeroplane tugs, luggage carts, de-icing and snow removal, staff buses, maintenance vehicles, and passenger shuttles were all on the list.
Airports are considered safer because they provide more regulated, low-speed settings, such as separate lanes for various sorts of groundside vehicles and open tarmacs with good visibility airside, which minimise the chance of accidents.
The self-driving vehicles can also be used to enforce social distancing health standards. Humans are removed from the equation by driverless service vehicles such as tugs, whilst passenger shuttles may manage occupancy.
Deploying new electric GSE (eGSE) technologies is a potential prospect, in part because buyers are often big, technologically savvy airlines, contractors, or airports with centralized procurement and maintenance departments. Airlines, which are especially vulnerable to fluctuations in petroleum prices, might profit the most from fuel diversification.
GSE is especially well-suited to electrification due to its low-end torque, frequent start/stops, idle time, and short needed ranges. Hydraulic lifts (for all equipment) are one example of an auxiliary load that may be provided more effectively by electric power sources (rather than an idle diesel motor vehicle).
| Sr. No. | Timeline | Company | Sales |
| 1 | Q3-2021 (Ending September 2021) | Textron Aviation | Textron Aviation saw a strong recovery in the general aviation market with a 49% increase in revenues over last year's third quarter and a $721 million increase in backlog. |
| 2 | Q3-2021 (Ending September 2021) | JBT Corporation | JBT Corporationâs third-quarter 2021 revenue of $477 million increased 14 percent year over year. Operating income was $41 million and net income was $29 million. |
| 3 | Q2-2021 | JBT Corporation | JBT Corporationâs second quarter revenue of $475.5 million increased 16 percent year over year. Operating income was $47.3 million and net income was $30.5 million, declining 1 percent and 6 percent, respectively |
| 4 | Q1-2021 | Rheinmetall | Rheinmetall increased its consolidated sales by â¬47 million ($53 M) or 3.5% year-on-year to â¬1,405 million ($1,590M) in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the previous yearâs â¬1,358 million. |
Flex fuel vehicles run on a blend of petrol and ethanol or pure ethanol. Current regulations allow for a 10% blend only (E10) with a proposed 20% ethanol blend in petrol scheduled to be introduced in 2025. However, due to supply-related issues, E10-blended petrol is only available in 15 states in India which has made its way in through the complete system of integration of automobile manufacturing.
Rheinmetall AG is part of the latest development with an integrated approach towards security and better safe operations of the airport efficiency without comprising on the quality of services.
The Unmanned Baggage Handler created by Rheinmetall subsidiary Provectus Robotics Solutions is the quickest and safest way to remove suspicious baggage from airline terminals. Its remote operating capabilities keep airport personnel and passengers safe by moving suspicious baggage away from the terminal so that it may be inspected and destroyed by bomb disposal specialists. This tough vehicle can work in rain or sun and can even travel over snow up to a depth of 23cm (9in). Its LED floodlights and HD cameras allow it to work day or night and collect crystal-clear environmental data.
The autonomous machinery is made in such a manner that it executes itself as an Autonomous and teleoperated modes powered by advanced robotic intelligence system with the Integrated control software facilitates smart evacuation and faster resolution.
TLD Group which is part of the Alvest Group as part of a completely operating subsidiary under the airport vehicles operational manufacturing. It has most recently introduced the tractor for aircraft towing on the airside operations near the terminal requirements. The TPX-100-E is an electric towbar less tractor designed for pushing back most commuters and single aisle aircrafts weighing up to 100 tonnes, ranging from the SAAB 2000 to the BOEING B757 (100 tonnes maxi).
Its innovative AC/DC technology in this tractor series enhances driving comfort and longevity, allowing for greater dependability and lower operating expenses. The cradle mechanism is intended to accommodate every NLG, even tilted ones. It comes with an excessive torque warning device. The automated management of the loading and unloading cycle enables fail-safe operations. The TPX-100-E has a comfortable ergonomic cabin and provides a high degree of agility as well as good visibility.
| Sl no | Topic |
| 1 | Market Segmentation |
| 2 | Scope of the report |
| 3 | Abbreviations |
| 4 | Research Methodology |
| 5 | Executive Summary |
| 6 | Introduction |
| 7 | Insights from Industry stakeholders |
| 8 | Cost breakdown of Product by sub-components and average profit margin |
| 9 | Disruptive innovation in the Industry |
| 10 | Technology trends in the Industry |
| 11 | Consumer trends in the industry |
| 12 | Recent Production Milestones |
| 13 | Component Manufacturing in US, EU and China |
| 14 | COVID-19 impact on overall market |
| 15 | COVID-19 impact on Production of components |
| 16 | COVID-19 impact on Point of sale |
| 17 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Geography, 2021-2026 |
| 18 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Product Type, 2021-2026 |
| 19 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by Application, 2021-2026 |
| 20 | Market Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast by End use, 2021-2026 |
| 21 | Product installation rate by OEM, 2021 |
| 22 | Incline/Decline in Average B-2-B selling price in past 5 years |
| 23 | Competition from substitute products |
| 24 | Gross margin and average profitability of suppliers |
| 25 | New product development in past 12 months |
| 26 | M&A in past 12 months |
| 27 | Growth strategy of leading players |
| 28 | Market share of vendors, 2021 |
| 29 | Company Profiles |
| 30 | Unmet needs and opportunity for new suppliers |
| 31 | Conclusion |
| 32 | Appendix |
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