Global Airport Automation Market to Reach $19.5 Billion by 2035

The global airport automation market is entering a decade of extraordinary transformation, driven by rapidly rising passenger volumes, growing expectations for seamless travel and the aviation industry’s push for greater operational efficiency. Recent findings show that the market, valued at USD 8.78 billion in 2025, is on track to reach USD 19.54 billion by 2035. With a projected CAGR of 7.53%, automation is becoming one of the strongest forces reshaping airport operations worldwide. 

Airport automation encompasses a wide range of technologies, from self-service kiosks and biometric gates to automated baggage systems and real-time data solutions. These systems have become essential to managing increasingly complex airport environments. As airports face mounting pressure to reduce wait times, streamline processes and handle surging passenger numbers, automation offers a clear path towards efficiency. More importantly, it enhances the travel experience by minimising bottlenecks and reducing human error, which ultimately strengthens customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

The market’s growth is supported by several key segments that highlight how airports are evolving. Automation and control systems remain at the forefront, largely because airports are continuously investing in ways to enhance safety, operational flow, and service reliability. At the same time, data storage solutions are accelerating in importance. The sheer volume of data produced by modern airports, from passenger flow patterns to baggage tracking and airside operations, has pushed data-driven decision-making to the centre of aviation strategy. 

Among the technologies driving this movement, baggage handling systems have emerged as a crucial backbone. Today’s passengers expect smooth journeys, and mishandled baggage is one of the fastest ways to erode trust. For this reason, airports are aggressively upgrading their systems, making baggage handling the fastest-growing technology segment within the automation landscape. 

Automation levels also paint a clear picture of airport modernisation. Level 1 automation, which includes widely adopted self-service kiosks and mobile boarding solutions, currently dominates the market due to its ease of deployment and immediate impact on passenger convenience. But Level 2 automation is gaining momentum as airports look for deeper integration between systems, greater autonomous capabilities and enhanced support for rising traffic. 

Landside operations, everything passengers experience before reaching the aircraft, continue to account for the largest share of investment. From smarter check-in zones to improved security screening, these touchpoints are where automation can most visibly improve both passenger experience and airport throughput. Commercial airports lead adoption globally, with their high passenger density creating strong demand for these advancements. Their scale and complexity require sophisticated solutions that can streamline operations without compromising safety. 

Geographically, North America maintains the largest market share thanks to its established infrastructure and consistent investments in modernisation. However, Asia is quickly becoming the region to watch. A rapidly expanding middle class, surging air travel demand, and large-scale smart airport projects are driving some of the highest growth rates in the world. Airports across Southeast Asia, China, and India are embracing automation not only as a tool for improvement but as a necessity for future readiness. 

The competitive landscape includes some of the most recognised global leaders in technology and aviation solutions, companies like Siemens, Honeywell, IBM, Cisco, Thales, SITA, Collins Aerospace, ABB, Wipro and Amazon Web Services, each contributing to different layers of airport digitalisation. Their role in shaping the future of aviation underscores the breadth of innovation fuelling this market. 

With airports striving to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen security and elevate the passenger journey, automation is no longer a luxury; it is the core of their future strategy. The next decade is set to redefine how airports operate, blending intelligent systems, connected infrastructure and data-driven decision-making to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving travel ecosystem.