Air Start Unit Market

Air Start Unit Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

Expanding at a CAGR of 4.4%, the global air start unit market is anticipated to increase from a valuation of US$ 98.3 million in 2023 to US$ 151.8 million by the end of 2033.

Air start units (ASUs), which provide consistent compressed air to start turbine engines in aircraft of all sizes, are an essential piece of hardware for advanced aviation operations. The need for high-quality air start units is anticipated to increase over the coming years as pollution regulations continue to tighten due to their capacity to offer dependable, clean compressed air for starting engines under a variety of circumstances.

As time has gone by, air start units have gotten lighter, more effective, and more user-friendly because of developments in materials, design, and manufacturing techniques, making them perfect for a range of aviation-related applications. As a result, the market for air start units is anticipated to experience steady expansion over the coming years, opening up new prospects for consultants, investors, and business experts.

Air start units are employed throughout a range of aviation industries, including commercial, military, and civil airports. ASUs are used to start specialized aircraft that need compressed air to start in other sectors, such as air shows and firefighting aircraft.

• Demand for air start units for commercial use is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period.
• Increasing research for efficient and advanced engines and continuous flow air start units within the commercial sector is creating ample growth opportunities for market players.

Globally, the market is also expected to witness significant growth due to rising investments in airport infrastructure development, capacity building, and technological and capital-intensive fleet management. Air start units have been crucial for both the commercial and military aviation sectors to avoid aircraft incidents on the ground.

• Air start units of 150 PPM to 250 PPM are set to witness high demand. This growth is complemented by widespread use in both, the commercial and military aviation sectors.

An increase in air passengers across the globe is creating demand for additional fleets in commercial lines. Improving airport infrastructure in mature as well as developing economies will aid the demand growth of air start units over the coming years.

Rise in military aviation and aircraft fleets in both developing and developed economies and emerging alternate clean fuels with more efficient and less polluting engines are ensuring the potential growth of the market. Rising demand for ready-to-deploy units under any environmental and climatic conditions is poised to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Report Attributes	Details
Air Start Unit Market Size (2023)	US$ 98.3 Million
Projected Market Value (2033)	US$ 151.8 Million
Global Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	4.4% CAGR
Market Share of Self-Propelled Air Start Units (2023)	42%
Germany Market Size (2033)	US$ 7.4 Million
China Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	6.5% CAGR
Market Share of Air Start Units for Commercial Use (2023)	76%
India Market Growth Rate (2023 to 2033)	4.7% CAGR
United States Market Size (2023)	US$ 14.6 Million
Key Companies Profiled	TLD Group Rheinmetall AG Stewart & Stevenson Guinault GSE Textron GSE Aviation Ground Equipment Corp. MAK Controls and Systems Pvt Ltd. Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Tianyi Airport Special Equipment Co., Ltd. Aviation Ground Equipment Corp.

Why is There Growing Need for Air Start Units in Aviation Operations?

“Ready-to-Use All-Weather Operational Capabilities of Air Start Units”

The compact, small, ready-to-use, all-weather operational capabilities of air start units are features that will drive market growth. Commercial and military sectors give high importance to small units because they facilitate rapid and smooth movement of the machine in case of an emergency. Advantages of small size and compactness include lower maintenance requirements, less space occupancy, and reduced logistical costs.

Aircraft operate at various altitudes, latitudes, and climatic conditions. Machine compliance with these adverse conditions is crucial to responding early and fast in any kind of emergency. Their operational capability to perform in these conditions without any special preparation is of the utmost importance.

“Integration of Multi-fuel Technology and Embedded Fleet Management Systems”

Embedded fleet management systems and multi-fuel technology have gained huge popularity in recent years. Both these technologies have favored manufacturers as well as consumers.

Ground support and maintenance work can lead to fatal injuries if anything goes wrong. Manufacturers have come up with state-of-the-art technology for fleet management systems. These systems transfer operational data to remote places for monitoring and diagnosis. This helps in identifying faults and performing diagnoses with greater accuracy.

On similar grounds, multi-fuel is another technology that has aided in increasing operating options. This enables manufacturers to use the type of fuel mentioned that is logistically and economically available nearby.

What is Dampening the Sales Growth of Air Start Units?

“Issue of High Manufacturing and Maintenance Costs”

High manufacturing and maintenance costs of ASUs and engines pose a threat to extensive volume sales. Over the years, more advancements in engine technology and the introduction of IoT by manufacturers have added to the overall cost.

Governments across the globe are imposing strict emission norms to curb pollution. Pollutants such as NOx, PM, and HC are key emissions from diesel engines. Manufacturers have been innovating extensively to get over these hurdles.

What Strategies Should Start-ups Follow to Stand Out in This Industry?

“New Manufacturers Should Introduce Environment-friendly and Advanced Air Start Units”

New businesses should make investments in advanced air start units with improved technology, lower pollutants, and less fuel usage to make a mark in this industry. They need to concentrate on creating environment-friendly solutions to meet the needs of the aviation sector. They can also concentrate on establishing alliances, accessing new markets, and offering superior after-sales service.

Country-wise Insights

Will the United States be a Profitable Market for Producers of Air Start Units?

“Product Demand Rising Due to Rapid Expansion of Aviation Industry”

• Adoption of air start units in the United States is anticipated to evolve at a CAGR of 4% over the projection period.

The United States has a history of early technological adoption, industrial revolution, and a matured aviation industry. An increase in operational airports combining both, commercial and military, has been the main driving force for explicit growth of the market in the country. The United States has the major fleet of military aircraft in the world, which has complemented the demand growth of air start units.

• Companies such as Air + Mak Industries Inc., Textron GSE Inc., Tronair Inc., Aviation Ground Equipment Corp., Stewart and Stevenson, and Start Pac are situated in the United States, which makes the country a prominent market.

What is the Market Outlook for Air Start Units in China?

“Growing Fleet of Narrow Body Aircraft for Passenger Movement”

• Demand for air start units in China is valued at US$ 10.3 million in 2023.

China, generally known as the manufacturing hub of the world, is poised to dominate the market over the decade due to extensive airport infrastructure development, technological advancements in modern ground support equipment, increasing passenger volumes, and rising investments in the military. Furthermore, with a rise in narrow-body aircraft for passenger movement within the country and globally, demand for air start units is expected to surge over the coming years.

How is Demand for Air Start Units Evolving in India?

“Increasing Investments in Infrastructure Development”

• The market in India is predicted to reach US$ 15.3 million by 2033.

India has been rapidly developing its airports for better connectivity within the country, to ease logistics for trade benefits, and is regularly investing in its air power looking at changing geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific region and across its borders. Moreover, extensive investments in infrastructure development and capacity building across the country and rising demand for aviation connectors are further poised to provide ample opportunity to air start unit manufacturers.

• Industries expanding under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat schemes have surged demand for manufacturing set up within the country, thereby driving demand for air start units.

Category-wise Insights

Which Engine Type is More Preferred for Aircraft?

“IC Engine-powered Air Start Units Widely Used in Aircraft Due to Their Low Maintenance”

Manufacturers offer both IC engine-powered air start units and gas turbine engine-powered air start units. Because of diesel’s unparalleled combination of power, reliability, and currently more efficient and less polluting engines, their demand remains high across regions.

IC engine-powered air start units have fewer complexities to deal with as compared to gas turbine engine-powered air start units. Maintenance of these engines is less expensive as compared to gas turbine engines. Gas turbine engine-powered air start units need skilled operators and high-priced jet fuel. However, the power provided by gas turbine-powered air start units is immense, and these are used for giving an initial start to larger aircraft.

Why is Demand for Continuous Flow Air Start Units Increasing Worldwide?

“Continuous Flow Air Start Units More Preferred due to their Easy Operational Capabilities”

The market is segmented into stored and continuous flow by machine type. Demand for continuous flow air start units is gaining traction owing to their advantages of continuously compressing the required amount of air for starting the aircraft.

Continuous flow air start units are enabled with the latest technology and do not have the restriction of a fixed amount of stored air that limits operational capability. Owing to their widespread application and easy operational capabilities, these air start units have immense growth opportunities over the coming years.

Competitive Landscape

Key market players are focusing on introducing efficient and less emission-producing engines. Leading companies are concentrating on new developments, supply chain management, and improved product offerings to increase their revenue. Strategic partnerships with government bodies, product standards, quality control, and targeted mergers and acquisitions with key companies are some of the core strategies that will help some market participants maintain their position in the industry.

For instance,

• In March 2021, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, the Engineering & Construction activity of the Air Liquide Group, announced a successful start-up of a world-scale butadiene extraction unit at Evonik's facility in Antwerp, Belgium to expand its footprints across Europe.

Key Segments of Air Start Unit Industry Research

• By Mass Flow Rate :

  • Less Than 150 PPM
  • 150 PPM to 250 PPM
  • 251 PPM to 350 PPM
  • Above 350 PPM

• By Configuration :

  • Towable
  • Skid-Mounted
  • Self-Propelled

• By Machine Type :

  • Stored
  • Continuous Flow

• By Engine Type :

  • IC Engines
  • Gas Turbine Engines

• By End User :

  • Commercial
  • Military

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa