Smart airport market seen topping $18 billion by 2030

The Business Research Company says the smart airport market will exceed $18 billion by 2030, driven by automation, AI and passenger growth. North America is expected to lead the market, while Thales held the top vendor position in 2025.

Why it matters: - Airports are accelerating investments in automation, AI and digital infrastructure as passenger volumes rise and operations become more complex. - The shift is expected to reshape airport security, baggage handling, passenger processing and commercial services. - The market’s growth also signals rising demand for connected airport systems and cybersecurity.

What happened: - The Business Research Company forecast the global smart airport market will surpass $18 billion by 2030. - The market is projected to grow at a 13% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - Thales Group ranked as the top vendor in 2025 with a 5% market share. - North America is forecast to be the largest regional market in 2030 at $6.1 billion, up from $3.2 billion in 2025.

The details: - The smart airport market is estimated to make up about 1% of the broader smart technology market, which is forecast to reach $3,157 billion by 2030. - The market also represents nearly 0.1% of the information technology industry, estimated at $13,788 billion in 2030. - Smart airport processes are expected to dominate in 2030, representing 42% of the market, or about $7 billion. - The services market also includes smart transport and parking, smart retail and entertainment, smart workplace, and smart business-to-business services. - The infrastructure side of the market includes endpoint devices, communication systems, ground handling controls, air and ground traffic control, and security systems. - The market is also segmented by location into landside, airside and terminal-side operations. - The top 10 companies accounted for 16% of market revenue in 2025, showing a fragmented competitive landscape. - Other major 2025 market shares included Honeywell International at 4% and RTX Corporation’s Collins Aerospace unit at 2%. - Several other vendors, including SITA, Amadeus, Siemens, Daifuku, Cisco, Indra and Lufthansa Systems, held shares ranging from 1% to 0.5%.

Between the lines: - The market’s fragmentation suggests no single vendor has overwhelming control, leaving room for consolidation and partnership-driven growth. - Airports appear to be prioritizing technologies that reduce delays, improve security and support real-time decision-making. - The emphasis on biometric verification, AI analytics and IoT infrastructure points to a broader move toward “smart” passenger journeys and data-driven operations. - Intelligent operation centers are emerging as a key operating model, with Huawei launching a smart airport IOC in April 2025 that connects airport systems and uses AI analytics and predictive capabilities. - The report’s growth estimates suggest the biggest gains will come from operational software and integrated systems, not just physical infrastructure.

What's next: - Smart airport processes are projected to add about $3 billion by 2030, making them the biggest growth driver inside the market. - Smart transport and parking services are expected to add about $2 billion, while smart retail and entertainment, smart workplace services and smart business-to-business services are each projected to add about $1 billion. - The United States is expected to be the largest country market in 2030 at $5.3 billion, up from $2.9 billion in 2025. - The report points to continued investment in digital twins, 5G-enabled ecosystems, autonomous ground support equipment, robotics and cloud-based management. - The Business Research Company said future competition is likely to intensify through strategic alliances, product development and geographic expansion.

The bottom line: - Smart airports are moving from pilot projects to core infrastructure, and the next wave of growth is likely to come from software-heavy systems that connect every part of airport operations.