Ground Support Equipment Market Report 2026

The ground support equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $9.88 billion in 2025 to $10.73 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in global air traffic increasing demand for baggage tugs, belt loaders and cargo loaders, rising expansion of airport infrastructure requiring additional ground power units and support fleets, increased adoption of modern fuel trucks and lavatory service vehicles to improve turnaround efficiency, advancements in safety and ergonomic design of pushback tractors enhancing ground handling operations, expansion of maintenance activities driving demand for reliable and durable ground support equipment.

The ground support equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $14.4 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of electric and low-emission GSE to meet airport sustainability goals, increasing integration of telematics and IoT for real-time monitoring of ground equipment performance, expansion of autonomous and semi-autonomous GSE improving operational efficiency and safety, rising investment in modular and rapidly deployable ground handling systems to support traffic fluctuations, development of advanced high-efficiency power units and loaders for next-generation aircraft. Major trends in the forecast period include automation in baggage and cargo handling, electrification of ground support vehicles, predictive maintenance and fleet management, integration with airport iot and connected infrastructure, lightweight and fuel-efficient equipment designs.

The growing number of air passengers and the rise in cargo transportation are expected to boost the ground support equipment market in the future. An air passenger is someone who travels by air, usually on a commercial airline, while cargo transportation involves the movement of goods from one location to another. Ground support equipment is essential for optimizing processes such as fueling aircraft, managing baggage, and loading and unloading cargo, thereby facilitating the handling of the increased volume of aircraft, passengers, and cargo. For example, in July 2024, the Asian Airlines magazine, an independent civil aviation publication based in Australia, reported that airlines in the Asia-Pacific region are leading the way with a 27% year-on-year rise in demand. Capacity also expanded by 26% compared to the previous year, while the load factor improved to 81.6%, reflecting a 0.6 percentage point increase since May 2023. Consequently, the significant rise in the number of air passengers and cargo transportation is driving the ground support equipment market.

Key players in the ground support equipment market are placing greater emphasis on the introduction of advanced electric ground support vehicles to gain a competitive advantage. These vehicles are cutting-edge, eco-friendly transportation solutions aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability in aviation ground operations. For instance, in October 2023, Webasto, a Germany-based provider of charging systems, collaborated with JBT AeroTech, a US-based company, to unveil the AmpCart. This towable charging station is specifically designed for electric airport ground support equipment (GSE) and features Webasto's advanced MVS chargers, enabling electric GSEs to access power anywhere on the ramp. The AmpCart sets a new benchmark for GSE electrification by offering a highly efficient and cost-effective solution for the ground support equipment industry. This innovative charging station is designed to transform the GSE sector by providing exceptional convenience and supporting the industry's commitment to reducing CO2 emissions at airports.

In April 2024, Rhinestahl Corporation, a US-based engine-towing firm, acquired Hydro Systems for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to boost Rhinestahl's market share and operational efficiency by leveraging the combined strengths in tooling and support services to cater to a wider array of aviation customers. Hydro Systems, based in Germany, is a professional engineering services company that provides hydraulic power for lifting and moving heavy loads in ground support equipment (GSE) operations.

Major companies operating in the ground support equipment market are John Bean Technologies (JBT) Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment Co. Ltd., Mallaghan Engineering Ltd., AERO SPECIALTIES INC., Cavotec SA, Tronair Inc., TLD Group, ITW GSE, Kalmar Motor AB, GATE GSE, Jungheinrich AG, Lektro Inc., Advanced Charging Technologies, Cobus Industries GmbH, ALVEST Group, Flightline Support Ltd., Aeroservices Ltd, Dabico Airport Solutions, ADELTE GROUP SL., 247GT Ltd., Mulag Fahrzeugwerk Heinz Wössner GmbH u. Co. KG, TUG Technologies Corporation, Powervamp Ltd., TCR International, Aviaco GSE.

North America was the largest region in the ground support equipment market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the ground support equipment market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the ground support equipment market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have influenced the ground support equipment market by increasing the cost of imported electric tugs, refueling trucks, cargo loaders, and other specialized equipment, particularly affecting manufacturers in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Segments like powered GSE and electric ground vehicles face higher production costs and potential delays. However, tariffs incentivize local manufacturing, support domestic innovation, and encourage adoption of cost-efficient and energy-saving technologies, enhancing competitiveness and self-reliance in the sector.

The ground support equipment market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides ground support equipment market statistics, including ground support equipment industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with ground support equipment market share, detailed ground support equipment market segments, market trends and opportunities and any further data you may need to thrive in the ground support equipment industry. This ground support equipment market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

Ground support equipment (GSE) comprises the machinery and equipment utilized to support aircraft during ground operations, facilitating efficient and safe ground handling activities such as maintenance, passenger boarding, and cargo loading and unloading.

The main types of ground support equipment include powered ground support equipment and non-powered ground support equipment. Powered ground support equipment encompasses a variety of machinery and equipment powered by electricity, fuel, or other forms of energy to support ground operations in the aviation industry. This category includes non-electric ground support equipment, electric ground support equipment, hybrid ground support equipment, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and advanced ground support equipment. These technologies operate in both commercial and military contexts, serving applications such as aircraft handling, passenger handling, and cargo handling.

The countries covered in the ground support equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The ground support equipment market consists of baggage tugs, fuel trucks, belt loaders, cargo loaders, ground power units, lavatory trucks and pushback tractors. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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