The worldwide airport security market was valued over USD 8.4 billion in 2015. It is projected at about USD 13.4 billion by 2024 (forecast period - 2016 to 2024). The segment of ‘safety surveillance’ held over 9% of the total shares in 2015.
Rising air travel is likely to promote the need for efficient safety systems, impelling market growth. Airports can be victims to cyber-crimes, robberies, vandalism, and terrorism. Terrorism is the most critical of these.
Governments worldwide have amended their laws to strengthen safety. Technologies enabling public safety are of paramount importance. These would make screening systems more rigid.
Post the gun attacks on a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) officer & other people at ‘Los Angeles International Airport’ in the U.S., a legislation was passed to establish safety standards. This legislation drove operators to enhance their safety procedures. It also pushed them at being well-acquainted with innovative technologies.
Maintenance and training are critical in the industry. Manufacturers focus on integrated & intelligent solutions, which can contribute market growth. Proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things), smart phones, and smart security can be a primary industry driver.
Global and local policies have boosted the acquisition of safety technologies. Organizations; like the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) have established safety standards to supervise their adherence.
Likewise, airports have deemed an alternative for human labor. This comprises advanced safety solutions, adding industry expansion. Higher demand for ‘effective screening’ to decrease passenger hassles and improve safety should prompt market demand in the near future.
With increasing small cities, new airports are a key element of ‘integrated transport strategy.’ The same is expected to raise market incomes. Better infrastructure will also aid industry growth.
Conversely, high costs of novel technologies may prevent market flow. Efficient equipment for fighting threats and absence of tangible ‘return on investments’ have discouraged workers from buying advanced technologies. Labor costs constitute a large share in safety budgets.
The airport security industry is home to ‘solution providers.’ These offer high-tech products & services that cater to multiple applications. Manufacturers are continually in the process of developing & enhancing their technologies to integrate the same with other systems.
Several firms vie for increased market shares. Reliability and credibility of ‘airport security’ products are keys to the existence of these firms. ’Economic downfall’ can reduce funds for constructing new airports & renovating old ones. Few of the recent trends witnessed in the airport security industry are passenger awareness about safety and reduced queue time for screening. Technical inconsistencies may obstruct the industry.
New regulations in Europe regarding screening will introduce modern trends and replace existing ones. Moreover, growing ‘after-sales’ earnings offer key market opportunities.
Security systems comprise software for better monitoring and risk prevention & detection. Suppliers and distributors play a crucial role in acquiring small products; such as hand-held devices, CCTV cameras, and access controls.
Large equipments; like x-ray scanners, detectors, and road-blockers are obtained directly from vendors either on lease or purchase orders. The industry is divided into technologies and geographies. Technologies include access controls, cyber safety, perimeter security, screening, surveillance, and others.
Access controls contain keypads, card readers, vehicle controls, and biometric authentication. Keypads and car readers constitute the primary technologies adopted. Biometric authentication is anticipated to gain significant shares by 2024.
Cyber safety would grow at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. This can be attributed to novel technologies & trends; such as big data, cloud storage, IoT (Internet of Things), and smart solutions. The segment even gets robust support from the government, as it safeguards IT infrastructure & vital data.
Cyber safety protects data that is crucial for air traffic control (ATC) information systems and computer reservation & global distribution systems (CRS/GDS). Perimeter security involves gadgets for perimeter supervision and intrusion detection. It covers alarms, bollards, electronic fences, gates, sensors, and their likes.
Screening led the market in 2015, capturing over 45% shares. It includes the monitoring of baggages, cargo, and people. This segment detects prohibited objects; such as explosives, liquids, metals, and narcotics.
Screening devices encompass hand-held detectors, metal detectors, walk-throughs, and human pat-down searches. Rising ‘passenger’ volumes have encouraged further advancements; such as ‘backscatter X-ray’ and ‘millimeter wave’ systems.
Surveillance comprises IP and analog cameras, video analytics, and ground analog cameras. Its other sub-segments are lighting, Building Management Systems (BMS), and Command Control Communication & Integration (C3I).
Analog and IP cameras are rapidly gaining popularity. Video analytics execute a pivotal role in ‘software analytic’ companies & ‘threat detection.’ This is also likely to add innovative solutions to airports.
Geographies of the airport security market are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America occupied around 35% shares in 2014. This was credited to active presence of key players in the region.
Additionally, multiple constructions and up-gradations contributed regional expansion. Governmental spending and rigid mandates also drive North America. The Middle East and Asia Pacific would strongly add global sales.
Expansion across these two regions can owe to rising passenger volumes and infrastructural advancements. Moreover, boost in terrorism threats should propel both these markets. Aviation developments are the key to any regional expansion, raising the passenger-flow.
The China airport safety industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7% till 2024. Its aviation expansion should drive Asia Pacific. The ‘American Concrete Institute’ (ACI) and ‘International Air Transport Association’ (IATA) jointly signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) to develop ‘Smart Security’ or ‘Smart S’ in December 2013. ‘Smart S’ is an initiative focused on enhanced safety, efficiency, &experience at airports.
The airport security market is fragmented and competitive. Its players believe in agreements & collaborations to gain an edge over others. Some of the key competitors are American Science & Engineering; L-3 Security & Detection; Safran Morpho; and Smiths Detection.
American Science & Engineering generated about 50% of the total incomes in 2014. Smith’s Detection; Safran Morpho; OSI Systems; and L-3 Security & Detection held large shares in safety screening in 2015. These shares may increase by 2024 due to competition between vendors.
Vendors try providing passengers with quick, efficient, & convenient services. To screen cargo and baggages, ‘Morpho’ employs technologies; like trace detection, computed tomography, Raman Spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
