Passenger Boarding Bridge Market Report

Global Passenger Boarding Bridge Market Size

The global passenger boarding bridge market size was valued at USD 1.01 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to reach USD 1.07 billion in 2026 to reach USD 1.75 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2034.

A passenger boarding bridge (PBB), also known as a jetway, air gate, sky bridge, or airbridge, is a covered, movable connector that connects an airport terminal gate to an airplane, and in some cases, a port to a boat or ship, allowing passengers to board without having to go outside and risk exposure to the elements.

Passenger Boarding Bridges allow dry access to aircraft in all weather conditions and improve terminal security. They are frequently permanently attached to the terminal building at one end by a pivot and can swing left or right. To accommodate airplanes of various sizes, the cabin at the end of the loading bridge can be raised or lowered, extended, or retracted.

Technology is providing manufacturers of passenger boarding bridges tremendous prospects, courtesy of technological advancements and automation in the global aviation industry. In truth, AI-powered boarding bridges are just a few steps away from being fully automated, with many businesses investing more heavily in the far-reaching automation trend to increase profits. ShinMaywa Industries in Japan has developed AI-based technology that allows passenger boarding bridges to be autonomously positioned as close as 10cm from aircraft doors, which is a major improvement over current models.

MARKET DRIVERS

As passenger travel increases, so does the demand for large airplanes. To meet the growing traffic volume, several airlines are actively purchasing large planes that can carry more passengers on single journeys. Due to an increase in the number of very large aircraft (VLA) deliveries, airport boarding area gates must now accommodate more passengers every trip. Passengers boarding via passenger stairs is time-consuming and may result in revenue loss if an aircraft's turnaround time increases. These concerns are simply and conveniently addressed by passenger boarding bridges, which drive their sales, particularly for use on large planes.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

A standard aerobridge lasts 15 to 20 years before being replaced. New PBBs will be installed in a significant part as a result of forthcoming airport development and refurbishment projects. Because of the low cost of the latter, the market for PBBs is stifled by the refurbishment market for aerobridges. In general, airport authorities choose to rebuild aerobridges because they have a projected lifespan of 8 to 10 years and cost half as much as a new PBB.

In addition, airports can update and customize PBBs in terms of design and performance through refurbishment. When compared to refurbishing old PBBs, the cost of purchasing new PBBs and installing them is expensive. Aside from that, the time it takes to acquire, procure, and install a PBB is a deterrent.

REPORT COVERAGE

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

By Market Insights

The apron category is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the global passenger boarding bridge market during the study period. This is due to a variety of circumstances, including the fact that different aircraft types require varied docking heights. Its 360-degree directional bogies and great range of lateral movement make it perfect for double-decker jets such as the A380.

The over-the-wing bridge sector is expected to attain the highest valuation by 2026 due to the advent of larger aircraft with a wide-body and multiple doors. In recent years, the number of larger aircraft has continuously increased; larger aircraft have two decks, necessitating the development of extra PBBs to handle increased passenger capacity. As the number of larger aircraft grows, the demand for over-the-wing bridge passenger boarding bridges is expected to grow.

By Elevation System Insights

Electro-mechanical will have the biggest market share in the global passenger boarding bridge market by 2020, owing to the growth in air passenger traffic as a result of globalization and the rising tourism industry. This electromechanical elevation system also provides a high level of dependability, durability, and lifespan in the passenger boarding bridge business. It has cable motions directed safely by e-chain systems in the telescope tunnels, as well as vertical movements in the lifting units. As a result, it is easy to use, and as a result, it commands the biggest market share.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The Asia Pacific region is the world's largest and fastest-growing regional market for passenger boarding bridges, and this position is projected to be maintained in the coming years. This can be attributed to several factors, including increased regional production and demand for boarding bridges, increased R&D spending by economies to develop products that meet airport aesthetic requirements while adhering to the agencies' safety requirements, ongoing and upcoming airport projects, and the upgrading of existing airports, among others. India and China are the region's two main growth engines. By 2026, China is expected to have a market size of USD 278.2 million, with a CAGR of 9.7% over the analysis period, followed by Japan at 3.4 per cent.

The passenger boarding bridges market in North America is the largest, followed by Europe, and is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years as a result of rising demand for passenger boarding bridges from airports and seaports in the region, the large number of airports in the United States, and the increasing formulation of regulations to eliminate emissions from airports in the region's economies, among other factors.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS

The global passenger boarding bridge market is concentrated with well-established players. Key players in the market include

• ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany)
• Hubner Gmbh & Co KG (Germany)
• John Bean Tech Corp (US)
• East Island Aviation Services (US)
• CIMC Ltd (China)
• FMT Aircraft AB (Sweden)
• ShinMaywa Industries Ltd (Japan)
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
• Vataple Group Ltd (Hong Kong)
• PT Bukaka Teknik Utama TBK (Indonesia)
• Anton Air Support (Netherlands)
• Alpha-CIM (France)

RECENT MARKET NEWS

• The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm Enter Engineering and Thyssenkrupp AG have signed an agreement of intent that could see the EPC contractor take on the major role of construction partner at the Tebinbulak iron ore deposit in Uzbekistan.
• Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. have begun to collaborate on the development of next-generation small airplanes. ShinMaywa will design concepts, build prototypes, perform testing, validate autonomous technology, and more for small aircraft using its aviation engineering technologies and information garnered through the creation of flying boats and other aircraft.
• Adele, a Spanish engineering firm based in Barcelona that specializes in the design and manufacture of passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) for airports and seaports, has been hired by Spanish airport operator AENA to implement its Arcos remote-control operating system, which allows PBBs to be remotely operated from the airport's technical control room and autonomously maneuvered to and from all types of commercial aircraft.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

This research report on the global passenger boarding bridge market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on the type, elevation system, and region.

By Market Type

• Apron Drive
• Commuter Bridges
• Nose-Loader Bridges
• T-Bridge
• Over-the-Wing Bridge

By Elevation System

• Hydraulic
• Electro-Mechanical

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East and Africa