Airport Moving Walkways Market

• Market Size and Growth The global airport moving walkways market was valued at approximately USD 2.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.7 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period.

• Product Segmentation Belt-type walkways are expected to dominate the market, accounting for 61% of the share in 2025. Horizontal walkways are anticipated to lead the inclination angle segment with a 67% share.

• Technological Advancements Innovations such as energy-efficient motors, LED lighting, and smart sensors for speed modulation are enhancing the performance and sustainability of airport moving walkways.

• Regional Insights North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe are key regions driving the market growth, with significant investments in airport infrastructure and modernization projects.

• Market Drivers Increasing air passenger traffic, expansion of airport terminals, and the need for efficient passenger movement systems are fueling the demand for moving walkways.

• Challenges High installation and maintenance costs, along with space constraints in existing airport terminals, pose challenges to the widespread adoption of moving walkways.

• Competitive Landscape Leading players in the market include Kone Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, Schindler Group, Thyssenkrupp AG, Hitachi, Hyundai Elevator Company, and Mitsubishi Electric.

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In this report, the Airport Moving Walkways Market has been segmented by Type, Inclination Angle, Speed, Business Type, Airport Size and Geography.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Type

The Type segmentation distinguishes core engineering architectures that shape installation complexity, throughput, and lifecycle cost in airport terminals. Vendors leverage modular designs, safety enhancements, and energy-efficient drives to meet varying concourse layouts and passenger densities. Procurement strategies increasingly emphasize total cost of ownership, availability, and retrofit compatibility to minimize operational disruption while enabling future expansion.

Belt

Belt walkways offer a continuous surface that supports smooth baggage handling carts and uniform passenger flow across long corridors. Airports prioritize these for high-traffic connectors where ride comfort and low vibration are essential. Suppliers compete on fire-resistant materials, low-noise tractions, and smart condition monitoring that enables predictive maintenance and reduces unplanned downtime during peak schedules.

Pallet

Pallet systems use interlocking segments that deliver robust traction and durability for diverse footwear and climatic conditions. They are preferred in zones requiring heavy-duty performance and enhanced slip resistance, with designs optimized for ease of cleaning and module replacement. Manufacturers emphasize safety skirts, LED demarcation, and integrated obstacle detection to meet stringent airport safety codes and reduce liability risk.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Inclination Angle

The Inclination Angle segmentation reflects deployment context—flat inter-gate links versus grade changes between terminal levels. Decision makers assess ride comfort, ADA compliance, and evacuation protocols alongside mechanical loading and space availability. Technology roadmaps focus on regenerative braking, soft-start drives, and advanced handrail synchronization to improve energy efficiency and safety outcomes.

Horizontal

Horizontal moving walkways dominate in long concourses and people-mover corridors, optimizing transfer times between gates and security nodes. Their lower mechanical stress supports extended service intervals and predictable uptime. Operators value plug-and-play modules, IoT sensors for performance analytics, and low-profile pits that simplify integration during brownfield renovations.

Inclined

Inclined walkways connect mezzanines, baggage claim levels, and train links where escalator alternatives would fragment flows. Engineering priorities include anti-rollback systems, enhanced handrail guidance, and landing zone safety lighting. Airports adopt these where space is constrained, balancing structural load paths and architectural aesthetics without compromising throughput.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Speed

The Speed dimension aligns product selection with passenger demographics and terminal design. While simplicity and code compliance drive standardization, operators increasingly explore dynamic control to balance energy consumption with queue management. Integration with building management systems enables adaptive operation during peaks, nighttime schedules, and irregular operations.

Constant-Speed

Constant-Speed units remain the default for predictable flow, straightforward maintenance routines, and operator training. They reduce complexity in safety validation and simplify spare-parts inventories. Adoption is reinforced by uniform ride characteristics that meet global airport standards, making them a reliable choice for most concourse applications.

Acceleration-Capable

Acceleration-Capable systems allow variable speed profiles for higher effective throughput in space-limited corridors. Advanced control algorithms coordinate entry/exit deceleration zones, handrail speed matching, and presence detection. Airports consider these for congestion hotspots, weighing benefits in travel time against capex, training, and regulatory approvals.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Business Type

The Business Type segmentation separates growth from new builds versus service-driven revenue streams. Global hub expansions support New Installation & Modernization, while installed base depth underpins Maintenance contracts. Suppliers differentiate via design-build partnerships, performance-based SLAs, and digital twins that enhance asset life and availability.

New Installation & Modernization

New Installation & Modernization projects align with terminal expansions, security re-layouts, and passenger experience upgrades. Stakeholders prioritize energy-efficient drives, low-profile civil works, and aesthetic integration with wayfinding systems. Modernization programs replace legacy components with safety PLCs, contactless sensors, and LED guidance to extend lifecycle and meet current codes.

Maintenance

Maintenance is anchored by predictive analytics, remote diagnostics, and condition-based overhauls that reduce mean time to repair. Airports seek multi-year service frameworks guaranteeing uptime during peak travel seasons. Providers invest in spares pooling and technician certification to accelerate response and minimize passenger disruption.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Airport Size

Airport Size influences unit length, redundancy, and sophistication of monitoring. Large hubs deploy extensive networks with centralized control, while Medium airports balance coverage and cost. Small facilities target essential connections with compact footprints and easy service access. Across tiers, buyers emphasize energy savings, ride quality, and regulatory compliance.

Large

Large airports require high-capacity systems across multiple concourses, demanding redundant drives, fault-tolerant controls, and integration with airport operations centers. Procurement favors platforms with fleet-level analytics and cyber-secure connectivity to manage thousands of daily cycles while maintaining consistent service levels.

Medium

Medium airports focus on cost-effective coverage of key passenger routes—security to gates, and gates to baggage claims. They value modular extensions, efficient handrail systems, and low noise emissions. Vendors position scalable solutions that can be expanded as traffic grows without major civil reconstruction.

Small

Small airports adopt targeted installations for critical links, emphasizing compact pits, simplified controls, and fast commissioning. Decision criteria center on affordability, ease of upkeep, and compatibility with limited maintenance staff, ensuring dependable operation with minimal overhead.

Airport Moving Walkways Market, Segmentation by Geography

In this report, the Airport Moving Walkways Market has been segmented by Geography into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.

North America

North America exhibits strong upgrade cycles anchored by hub expansions and modernization mandates. Airports prioritize predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and redundancy to sustain high passenger volumes. Partnerships with technology providers emphasize remote diagnostics and standardized parts to streamline fleet management across multi-terminal complexes.

Europe

Europe balances historical infrastructure with sustainability targets, driving demand for high-efficiency motors and low-noise assemblies. Public procurement frameworks encourage competitive tenders, favoring vendors with green certifications and robust health & safety features. Cross-border operators seek interoperable platforms to simplify compliance across diverse regulations.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is propelled by new terminal construction and mega-hub projects, prioritizing scalability, high throughput, and rapid commissioning. Vendors collaborate via EPC partnerships to deliver large fleets with synchronized controls. Emphasis on lifecycle cost and digitized maintenance supports sustained performance under fast-growing passenger traffic.

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa focuses on iconic hub developments and strategic transit connectivity, with specifications highlighting premium aesthetics and high reliability. Projects integrate smart monitoring, energy-saving drives, and enhanced safety to cope with extreme climates and long operating hours. Regional operators value long-term service agreements to ensure uptime.

Latin America

Latin America advances through phased terminal upgrades and targeted capacity additions, emphasizing cost-efficient modernization. Buyers favor modular systems that reduce civil works and accelerate installation. Service models with local parts availability and technician training strengthen reliability and operational resilience.

This report provides an in depth analysis of various factors that impact the dynamics of Global Airport Moving Walkways Market. These factors include; Market Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Analysis.

Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities

This matrix outlines how core market forces Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities affect key business dimensions including Growth, Competition, Customer Behavior, Regulation, and Innovation.