Aero Wing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Platform (Commercial and Military) By Type of Build (Conventional Skin Fabrication and Composite Skin Fabrication), By Material (Alloys, Metal, and Composite), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global aero wing market size was USD 12.64 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 13.65 billion in 2024 to USD 24.85 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 6.9% over 2024-2032. North America dominated the aero wing market with a market share of 31.57% in 2023.

The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with aero wings witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

Aero wing is a technologically advanced fin that produces lift while moving through the air. It has a streamlined cross-section, which follows aerodynamic forces and reacts as airfoils. The factor that is projected to drive the market is the increasing demand for outsourced aero wing manufacturing. Moreover, the rise in the adoption of composite aero wings by the general aviation industry is anticipated to boost the market. The increasing demand for the cost-efficient aero wing is surging opportunities for the market. However, the higher costs associated with the installation of these components are majorly affecting the market growth.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry faced significant challenges, including a 14.4% revenue decline in 2019-2020 due to international travel bans, a 48.7% plunge in global domestic air travel demand in 2020, and an estimated USD 215 billion loss in the U.S. The pandemic also impacted aircraft deliveries, as Boeing was unable to receive a single commercial aircraft order in January 2020. The decrease in passenger aircraft demand had a significant impact on the aero wing market. However, North American companies began investing heavily in the digital transformation of aero wings to improve quality and productivity, which was expected to have a positive impact on the market over 2022-2023.

Aero Wing Market Trends

Advent of MAVERIC Blended Wing Body Aircraft Demonstrator is a Prominent Trend

The Airbus MAVERIC demonstrator is working on the blended wing body design of commercial aircraft. The purpose of this project to improve the strength of the air-passenger by achieving air-travel through an aircraft wing. The MAVERIC would have a large cabin layout. The MAVERIC project would improve the on-board experience as passengers get benefits such as larger aisles and extra legroom. In February 2020, for instance, Airbus unveiled the blended wing body aircraft design at the Singapore Air show. Dutch airline KLM has decided to adopt this V-shaped aircraft concept technology to make air travel eco-friendly by consuming 20% less fuel.

Aero Wing Market Growth Factors

Growing Defense Budget of China to Adopt Fifth Generation Fighter Jets Will Aid the Market 

In the financial year 2020-2021, China allocated USD 260 billion for defense expenditure. The government of China has allocated USD 65 billion in funding to procure the fifth-generation fighter Jets. These fighter jets are improving the aerial strength of China. Currently, China has JH-7, H-6 bomber aircraft; KJ-200, KJ-500, and KJ-2000 combat aircraft; and Chengdu J-7, J-16, Chengdu J-20, Su-27, Su-30MKK, Shenyang J-8, Shenyang J-11, Shenyang Su-35S, and Chengdu J-10 fighter jets.

In February 2021, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian Air Force (IAF)  signed a contract with a valuation of USD 7 billion to procure the 83 Light Combat Aircraft Tejas to improve the battlefield operation technique of the Indian Air Force. These combat aircraft have technologically advanced wings along with a superior attacking capacity. The growing demand for fighter jets from emerging economies such as China and India is anticipated to boost the market growth.

Rising Usage of Composite Components to Procure Aircraft Wings are Anticipated to Boost Market Growth

The increasing use of composite components in aircraft wings is expected to drive the growth of the aerospace industry. Composite materials, such as carbon fiber composites, offer superior strength-to-weight ratios, durability, flexibility, and reduced weight when compared to traditional metal components. This shift toward composite wings is driven by the demand for lighter aircraft structures, improved fuel efficiency, and enhanced performance. For example, new-generation aircraft such as the A350 and B787 use a significant percentage of composite materials in their wings.

The aerospace composites market is anticipated to experience significant expansion owing to the broader adoption of composites in aircraft manufacturing, resulting in enhanced aircraft performance, reduced fuel consumption, and overall operational efficiency. The trend demonstrates a fundamental shift toward advanced materials in the aviation industry, thereby influencing the future of aircraft design and production. In March 2020, the U.K.-based National Composites Centre established a new research & development facility to provide a digital platform for the procurement process of aero wings.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Supply Chain Disruption of Aero Wing Market and the Backlog of Commercial Aircraft to Hinder the Market Growth

The supply chain of the aerospace industry was disrupted in March 2019 owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most commercial airlines were grounded for 6 months. According to in-house research, in the U.K. there were only 9  deliveries of commercial aircraft orders in the month of August 2020. The statistics of the European aviation industry states that commercial aircraft deliveries were reduced by 54%  in the period of  July 2019. The aviation industry incurred a loss of USD 84.0 billion owing to the international travel ban, supply chain disruption, and the backlog of commercial aircraft. In the month of November 2019, Boeing reported that they had to cancel 88 orders of commercial aircraft owing to technical issues associated with the aircraft engine. The company also announced that the total order cancelation count is 536 for the financial year 2020-2021. Supply chain disruption of commercial aircraft and the rapidly increasing ratio of order cancellation is expected to impact the market growth.

Aero Wing Market Segmengtation Analysis

By Platform Analysis

Increasing Need of Commercial Aircraft from  Emerging Economies to Lead the Market’s Growth

Based on the platform, the market is segregated into commercial and military. The commercial segment is further divided into commercial aviation, business aviation, and general aviation. The commercial segment held a dominant share of the market in 2023. The dominance is owing to the increasing demand for commercial aircraft from emerging economies such as China and India. According to the Boeing report 2019, India needs 2,375 fixed-wing commercial aircraft from  2019 to 2040. The report also forecasted there would be a 19.86% growth in air-passenger traffic in India during the financial year of 2018-2019. The increasing demand for commercial aircraft across the globe is directly reflecting in the supply chain of the market.

The military segment is classified into fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, and trainer aircraft. The military segment is projected to register a higher CAGR by 2027. This growth is attributed to the growing defense budgets of China and India for the procurement of advanced jets. The advanced fighter jets are equipped with composite aero wings.  F-35 LIGHTNING-II, SHENYANG J-31, and SUKHOI T-50 are the fifth-generation fighter jets adopted by China and India. The increasing procurement of fighter jets has indirectly raised the demand for aircraft wings.

By Type of Build Analysis

Composite Skin Fabrication Segment to Register a Higher CAGR till 2032

On the basis of type of build analysis, the market is segmented into conventional skin fabrication and composite skin fabrication. The conventional skin fabrication segment held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This growth is owing to the adoption of this methodology by military aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to build the frame of the aero wing over the past two decades. These fibers are compressed with a special foam coating, which is then replaced after the curing process. This type of skin fabrication provides better strength to the aircraft wing.

Composite skin fabrication consists of spatial aero wing frame skeleton, including the rod elements and joints, and the inner lattice grid covered with the automated fiber placement of lattice grid. The composite skin fabrication segment is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing adoption of composite skin fabrication methodology by commercial aircraft OEMs.

By Material Analysis

Increasing Procurement of Lightweight Composite Materials  to Drive Market Growth

Based on  material analysis, the market is segmented into alloys, metals, and composites. The metal segment is set to hold the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This growth is owing to the wide usage of several metals, such as aluminum, steel, and titanium, to build the structure of an aircraft wing. Titanium is majorly used by aircraft manufacturers due to its excellent properties, including high-temperature resistance, lightweight properties, high corrosion resistance, and high strength. Titanium is majorly used to build aircraft wings and landing gear, as well as fan blades.

The composite segment is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the growing adoption of composite materials to build the aero wing for commercial aircraft. These materials are highly flexible, durable, and provide higher strength to the aircraft wing. The wings of the Airbus 350 XWB and the Boeing 787 are made from composite materials. Composites are also used to reduce the weight of the wings and mainframe.

In alloys, nickel alloys are majorly used in the aerospace industry to resist high temperatures and corrosion. Nickel alloys are structurally tough and have creep resistance properties. They are majorly used to procure several valves that are used to frame the aero wing.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market size of North America aero wing market stood at USD 3.99 billion in 2023. The growth rate is attributed to the presence of several key players and the presence of major aircraft wing manufacturers in the region. The growing demand for combat aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force is projected to boost the market growth.

Europe aero wing registers a remarkable growth in the market. The growing aviation sector in the region is expected to support market growth, driven by partnerships and collaborations. In February 2019, for instance, Aerostructures Assemblies India (AAI) and  Saab AB (Sweden)  signed a contract to procure the structural assembly for the over wing doors on the Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Asia Pacific’s aero wing market is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast timeline. This growth is attributed to the expansion of the commercial aerospace industry in China, India, and Japan. Moreover, the increasing demand for commercial aircraft from China and India is expected to provide several opportunities to the market players.

The Rest of the World would display remarkable dominance in the near future. The increasing spending on cost-effective aircraft wing technologies to improve the operational performance of aircraft from private firms in Brazil, South Africa, and the UAE is expected to refuel market growth.

List of Key Companies in Aero Wing Market

Airbus UK Set to Hold Leading Market Backed by Continuous Innovation in the Aircraft Wing Design

Airbus UK concentrates on developing advanced technologies to provide the superior performance of aircraft wings in extreme conditions. The company is producing the next generation of single-aisle commercial aircraft under the MAVERIC project. The project is advancing the company’s blended wing body design, which will save  20% fuel. The project was unveiled by Airbus UK at the Singapore Air Show 2020.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Airbus UK (The U.K.)


• AVIC XCAC (China)


• GKN Aerospace Services Limited (The U.K.)


• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)


• Sonaca Group (Belgium)


• Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. (The U.S.)


• Triumph Group (The U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

•  November 2023 - Airbus, a leading European aerospace and aircraft manufacturer, announced that it entered into new agreements with several Indian suppliers for the production of components for commercial aircraft. Contracts have been executed with Aequs, Dynamatic, Gardner, and Mahindra Aerospace for the procurement of airframe and wing components for Airbus' A320neo, A330neo, and A350 programs.


• August 2023 - The U.S. Air Force shared plans to invest in JetZero for the next phase of a blended wing body prototype aircraft project. JetZero is a company focused solely on developing the next generation of sustainable jet aircraft with a design that would help reduce fuel consumption.


• March 2023 – Tata Group agreed with Lockheed Martin to commence the production of fighter wing wings at their joint venture, Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL), located in Hyderabad. The Memorandum of Understanding envisages the production of 29 fighter wing ship sets, with the option of additional ship sets and deliveries starting in 2025.


• December 2022 - Advanced Aircraft Company, a developer and manufacturer of distributed electric propulsion tilt-wing and multi-rotor uncrewed aircraft vehicles, announced that it secured a contract from NASA to design and build tilt-wing prototype uncrewed aerial vehicles according to NASA specifications.


• March 2022 –  Airbus agreed to an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems through its subsidiary for the development of CityAirbus NextGen wings. The partnership would enable Airbus to explore disruptive aircraft design while complying with the most stringent regulations. Spirit AeroSystems would be responsible for the development and production of CityAirbus NextGen's wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Both partners' ambition is to achieve a minimum weight solution while also ensuring the highest levels of safety.

REPORT COVERAGE

The aero wing market research report provides an in-depth analysis and majorly focuses on key aspects, such as the market segmentation analysis, key regional factors,key industry developments, and market share by regions. The report also elaborates on the COVID-19 impact on the aviation industry.  Besides this, the report offers the latest market trends and highlights, segmented by type of build,revenue and market share, and forecast by type analysis. Moreover, the market research reports provides several factors that will contribute to the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Report Scope & Segmentation