Commercial Aircraft Avionics Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecast (2023 - 2028)

Commercial Aircraft Avionics Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecast (2023 - 2028)

The commercial aircraft avionics market is projected to record a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period.

The global aviation sector is undergoing an unprecedented disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic due to a drastic reduction in passenger traffic, which has negatively affected aircraft demand. Though the sector showed signs of improvement in 2021, the deliveries of commercial aircraft are significantly lower than the pre-COVID levels. Furthermore, the commercial aviation sector is expected to recover slowly, as travel demand is projected to normalize to pre-COVID levels by 2023, which is expected to challenge the growth of the commercial aircraft avionics market.

The aviation sector is governed by stringent regulations that stipulate all aspects of aircraft design, including structures and electronics. Prominent aviation regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have issued strict guidelines for adherence by aircraft OEMs and third-party service providers regarding avionics systems fitment and repair.

The aircraft avionics market is driven by the recovering demand for new commercial aircraft as part of the fleet expansion and modernization programs initiated by airlines operating in the region. Additionally, the increasing partnership between aircraft MRO providers is expected to drive their technical capabilities, enabling them to service new-generation aircraft procured by airlines. However, the early retirement of widebody jets due to COVID-19 is anticipated to impact the avionics retrofit sector since the size and installation costs of avionics systems on a widebody are much higher than a narrowbody aircraft.

Key Market TrendsNarrowbody Segment to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

The narrowbody segment dominated the commercial aircraft avionics market. The demand for such aircraft is anticipated to increase as most low-cost carriers (LCCs) are trying to modernize their existing fleets to exploit new market opportunities and match the competencies of successive aircraft versions. Airbus, a commercial aircraft manufacturer delivered 661 commercial aircraft in 2022 up from 609 in 2021. Also, Boeing delivered 340 commercial aircraft in 2021.

For instance, in December 2021, Air France-KLM announced an order for 100 Airbus A320 neo family aircraft, along with options for an additional 60 planes. The order consists of a mix of A320 neo and A321 neo aircraft, with the first deliveries expected in the second half of 2023. On the other hand, though the B737 MAX fiasco has hampered the market prospects for The Boeing Company, the successful recertification from the FAA has started driving back the demand for B737 MAX aircraft. Several airlines have started resuming operations on the 737 MAX jets and ordering new 737 MAX aircraft. On this note, in May 2021, SMBC Aviation Capital concluded a purchase agreement for 14 additional B737-8 aircraft. The quicker recovery of domestic air passenger traffic is also anticipated to rake in new orders for the narrowbody aircraft, which may drive the growth prospects of avionics systems providers associated with the narrowbody programs.

North America Held Highest Shares in the Market

The aerospace industry in the region is mature and strongly supported by a robust aviation base. Higher air traffic has resulted in the procurement of several aircraft by regional and international airline operators. Boeing, one of the major aircraft OEMs based in United States, generates a huge demand for avionics systems. Factors such as the availability of raw materials, political stability, and low production costs have driven the establishment of new aerospace manufacturing facilities in the region. Also, fluctuations in aviation fuel prices have triggered a surge in demand for fuel-efficient new-generation aircraft in North America. Hence, aircraft OEMs have started increasing their production capabilities to cope with the ever-increasing demand.

Airbus announced that it will increase the production rate of the A220 aircraft to around six per month in early 2022. It aims to increase the A220 production rate to 14 by 2025, i.e., 10 aircraft produced each month at its Mirabel facility and four at Mobile. Four United States-based customers, namely JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Breeze Airways, and Air Lease Corporation, constitute more than half of the backlog of the A220 program. Raytheon Technologies Corporation provides a majority of avionics subsystems integrated into the A220, including onboard computers, weather mapping radar, and electronic flight instrument systems. Other airlines in the region are also looking for post-pandemic growth.

For instance, in June 2021, United Airlines announced its largest-ever aircraft order for 270 narrowbody aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, as the carrier aims toward post-pandemic growth. Such developments render a positive outlook for the market in North America during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The commercial aircraft avionics market is moderately fragmented in nature due to the presence of a large number of avionics systems providers. Raytheon Technologies Corporation, General Electric Company, Honeywell International Inc., Safran SA, and Thales Group are some of the prominent players in the market. The market share of the active players is boosted by the high delivery volumes of commercial aircraft. Their market dominance is supported through relentless R&D of high-performance avionic components and subsystems that render their products superior and ensure adherence to required safety standards. The availability of several variants and continuous product development cycles enables the enhanced operating life of such systems.

For instance, in December 2022, WeSky, an avionics company launched a new lightweight in-seat power system. It is a 60W USB power supply solution known as "recharge” and it can reduce fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions for commercial airlines. The passengers can use it to charge their portable electronic devices while onboard the aircraft.

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