Airplane Windshield Market Report 2026

The airplane windshield market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.6 billion in 2025 to $1.69 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing use of laminated and multi-layered glass in cockpit windshields, development of heated windshields to prevent ice formation, rising demand for impact- and bird-strike-resistant materials, implementation of side windows and safety panels for pilot visibility, growth in aftermarket replacement and maintenance services for aircraft windshields.

The airplane windshield market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.09 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of advanced polycarbonate and acrylic materials for lightweight windshields, expansion of custom and specialized windshields for next-generation aircraft, integration of anti-glare and UV-protective coatings, rising demand for smart and electronically heated windshield technologies, increasing procurement for retrofit and new aircraft programs to enhance pilot safety and visibility. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of lightweight laminated windshield materials, rising demand for heated and anti-icing windshield technologies, enhanced impact-resistant windshields to withstand bird strikes, growing use of multi-layer optical coatings for improved visibility, expansion of aftermarket windshield replacement and customization.

The growth of airline travel is expected to drive the expansion of the airplane windshield market. Airline travel involves transporting passengers or cargo via commercial aircraft on scheduled flights operated by airlines. This growth is supported by a significant reduction in airfares over recent decades, making air travel more accessible. Airplane windshields are critical for ensuring pilot safety and visibility, protecting the cockpit from wind, debris, bird strikes, and extreme weather, while maintaining cabin pressurization and structural integrity at high altitudes. For example, in December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that U.S. airlines carried 83.3 million passengers - 72.1 million domestic and 11.2 million international - representing a 5.9% increase from December 2023. Consequently, the rise in airline travel is contributing to the growth of the airplane windshield market.

Leading companies in the airplane windshield market are increasingly entering strategic partnerships to enhance product quality, elevate safety benchmarks, and adapt to the evolving needs of the aviation sector. Such collaborations involve formal alliances where firms work collectively to achieve mutual goals, such as launching innovative technologies, increasing market penetration, or improving existing product lines. For example, in September 2023, Lilium GmbH, a Germany-based aerospace firm, collaborated with Saint-Gobain Aerospace, a U.S.-based plastics manufacturing company, to co-develop and manufacture customized windows and windshields for the Lilium Jet. By leveraging Saint-Gobain’s broad aviation expertise, the partnership aims to deliver lightweight, feature-rich windshields with anti-icing and anti-fogging technologies to enhance visibility, energy efficiency, and compliance with pilot protection and regulatory standards.

In May 2024, Lee Aerospace, a U.S.-based aerospace and aviation company, announced the acquisition of Llamas Plastics Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is part of Lee Aerospace’s strategy to broaden its footprint in the aerospace transparency market by gaining access to military, commercial, and space domains. This move allows the company to diversify its offerings and benefit from Llamas Plastics’ specialized technical knowledge and established clientele. Llamas Plastics Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in aerospace transparencies and composite products, including airplane windshields.

Major companies operating in the airplane windshield market are Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., Safran S.A., PPG Industries Inc., GKN Aerospace Services Limited, Schott AG, Gentex Corporation, The NORDAM Group LLC, McFarlane Aviation Inc., Lee Aerospace Inc., MAC Aero Interiors s.r.o., Kopp Glass Inc., Cee Bailey’s Aircraft Plastics Inc., Texstars LLC, Aero-Plastics & Structures Inc., Control Logistics Inc., LP Aero Plastics Inc., Tech-Tool Plastics Inc., Vision Systems Aeronautics SAS, Aeroval Inc., Aviation Glass & Technology B.V.

North America was the largest region in the airplane windshield market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the airplane windshield 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 on acrylic, polycarbonate, and glass materials have raised production costs and extended lead times for aircraft windshields, especially in North America and Europe. Commercial and military aviation segments relying on laminated and polycarbonate windshields experience the most disruption. Tariffs also promote local sourcing and drive innovation in lightweight composite windshield technologies.

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

An airplane windshield refers to the transparent panel or set of panels located at the front of an aircraft's cockpit, enabling pilots to maintain a clear view outside while shielding them from external factors like wind, weather, and debris. These windshields are commonly constructed using several layers of laminated glass combined with polycarbonate or acrylic materials to ensure durability, optical clarity, and resistance to bird impacts and pressure fluctuations encountered at high altitudes.

The main types of airplane windshield include acrylic, polycarbonate, mineral glass, and others. An acrylic windshield refers to a transparent panel made from acrylic plastic (polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), which is used in various transportation modes, such as aircraft, boats, and motorcycles. These windshields are used in several aircraft types, including narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, regional aircraft, business jets, and military aircraft. They are applied in commercial aviation, military aviation, and general aviation and cater to both original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket sector.

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

The airplane windshield market includes sales of cockpit windshields, side windows, heated windshields, laminated safety windshields, aftermarket replacement windshields, and custom aircraft windshields. 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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