Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 10.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $170.9bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Rising passenger volumes and infrastructure constraints shape airport operator strategies
- Airports are seeing historic demand, with Airports Council International reporting 9.4 billion passengers in 2024—marking the first time global travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels since 2020. International journeys accounted for 4.1 billion trips, putting extra pressure on busy hubs. As travel rises, congestion is becoming a widespread challenge: IATA found that 215 airports now qualify as “slot coordinated,” meaning flights must be scheduled and controlled because of infrastructure operating at or near full capacity—a number up 9.0% from last year. The FAA expects this trend to intensify, predicting that major US airports, such as SFO and JFK, may reach their capacity limits by 2028 unless expansions keep pace with demand.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Airports pursue targeted incentives as airlines realign growth ambitions
- Global air travel is trending upward, as airports worldwide welcome increasing passenger numbers. However, Airports Council International projects that, although the recovery is taking longer than initially anticipated, with forecasts now trailing three to four years behind pre-pandemic expectations, passenger traffic is expected to rise at a steady 3.4% annual rate from 2024 through 2043. This measured growth is encouraging airlines to concentrate on routes with the strongest and most reliable demand.
Biggest companies in the Global Airport Operation
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ENAIRE | 6,340.6 | 3,824.1 | 60.3 | |
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide | 4,636.0 | 1,380.0 | 29.8 | |
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | 3,885.6 | 2,127.4 | 54.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
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
Regulation curbs revenue growth from airline charges
- Airline charges in the industry include landing fees, gate and parking rents and access tariffs for fueling and ground services, all of which are linked to flight volume, turnaround times and aircraft movements. These offerings are contractually required for airport viability and their share of long-term revenue is anchored by the sector’s indispensable role in transportation.
- 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?
Products and services covered in the Global Airport Operation industry include Operation and maintenance of airports and runways, Air traffic control, Aircraft refueling, taxi, parking and rental of hangar space and Baggage and cargo handling services.Companies
Companies covered in the Global Airport Operation industry include ENAIRE, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Global Airport Operation industry include fixed-base operator (fbo), passenger facility charges (pfc) and 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
Passenger demand is reaching record highs, putting pressure on airport infrastructure and fueling new investment partnerships. Airports are raising fees and expanding capacit...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Business Locations Charts
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- Share of population compared to output in each region in 2025
- Data tables
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- 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 2020-2025
- 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 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of ENAIRE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for ENAIRE, 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
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
Airports saw early profit gains as travel rebounded worldwide. Surging passenger traffic let airports boost earnings by raising fees and surcharges, increasing profit’s share...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
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 2025?
The market size of the Global Airport Operation industry is $170.9bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Global Airport Operation industry in 2025?
There are 27,424 businesses in the Global Airport Operation industry, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Global Airport Operation industry?
The Global Airport Operation industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Global Airport Operation industry?
The Global Airport Operation industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Global Airport Operation industry grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Airport Operation industry has been growing at a CAGR of 10.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Airport Operation industry over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Airport Operation industry is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Airport Operation industry?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Airport Operation industry are ENAIRE, Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
What does the Global Airport Operation industry 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 industry?
The company holding the most market share in the Global Airport Operation industry is ENAIRE.
How competitive is the Global Airport Operation industry?
The level of competition is low and steady in the Global Airport Operation industry.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
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.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
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