Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024-2030)

Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Market Data

Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Market Trends & Drivers

New Light Weight Materials

• The landing gear of an aircraft is usually made of steel or titanium alloys, which are light in weight and have greater strength and carrying capacity; whereas, the tires are made of high-density rubber.
• The entire assembly is an important part of the airplane as it bears the maximum stress at the time of landing and take-off.
• The new developments in the actuation technology, which is responsible for activating and retracting the landing gear, incorporate more electrical and hydraulic solutions, which are lightweight and use less power.
• Many manufacturers are also trying to make use of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CRFP) in their products so as to reduce the weight of the landing gear and augment corrosion resistance.
• The main landing gear of Airbus A220, which is produced by Liebherr-Aerospace Inc., is manufactured using high-strength steel, which offers resistance to corrosion and damage from foreign objects.

Fast-Growing Commercial Aviation Industry

• The expansion of fleets by major passenger carriers and the growth in air traffic all over the globe are expected to increase the demand for new aircraft, thus boosting the market for landing gear.
• Moreover, the need for better fuel efficiency and sustainable designs in older aircraft is driving the market considerably.
• In addition, advanced control systems are rapidly replacing manually controlled hydraulic and mechanical systems.
• The growth of the commercial aviation industry is also affected by the global economy; as the fuel price increases, so does the fare of transportation. This results in efforts to reduce fuel consumption, while maintaining airspeeds and mileage.

Complex Design of Landing Gears Hampers Entry of New Players

• Failure of the landing gear in an aircraft is a major cause of accidents; therefore, designing it is a critical task for aerospace engineers. They need to figure out the geometric requirements, weight distribution, air pressure in tires, and other operational requirements for the aircraft.
• Further, these requirements need to be met in way that also complies with the safety regulations and operational guidelines of the aviation industry.
• The design of this component goes through various steps of R&D and quality checks, thus making it an expensive and complex process for new players to enter the market.

Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Industry Outlook

Gear Type Insights

• The main bifurcation held the larger market share, of around 75%, globally in 2023. The reason for this is the rise in the number of air passengers. The main landing gear bears the maximum weight of the aircraft while landing and taking-off.
• It has sturdier and bigger components compared to the one under the nose, enabling it to handle more stress during landing. This is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of commercial aircraft, making the main landing gear a critical component.
• The nose bifurcation will witness faster growth in the forecast period, because of the technological advancements in upcoming aircraft models. The upgraded landing gear systems under the nose will be more durable, reliable, and sustainable.

Below are the types of landing gears that were analyzed in the report

• Main (Larger Category)
• Nose (Faster-Growing Category)

Aircraft Type Insights

• In the aircraft type segment, the narrow body type held the largest share, of around 35%, in 2023.
• The demand for narrow-body aircraft is expected to be driven by an increase in the number of high-density flights between major airports and an increase in passenger traffic on low-cost carriers (LCCs).
• Widebody aircraft are expected to be the fastest-growing category in the forecast period.
• The fuel consumption of wide-body aircraft is less per passenger, especially when operating on long-haul flights. They make use of lighter materials, more fuel-efficient engines, and better aerodynamics.
• The market for commercial aviation landing gear is growing as a result of the increasing demand for fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft. This is why aerospace component makers are augmenting their focus on developing landing gear that can enhance the fuel efficiency of larger aircraft.

The types of aircraft studied in this report are mentioned below:

• Narrow-Body (Largest Category)
• Widebody (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Regional
• Others

End User Insights

• In the end user segment, OEMs hold the larger market share, and they are also expected to showcase the higher growth rate in the forecast period.
• The category is driven by the fleet expansion initiatives of airlines, which involve purchasing lightweight, fuel-efficient aircraft.
• For instance, in June 2023, Air India ordered 470 narrow-body and widebody airliners from Boeing and Airbus, while Indigo ordered 500 aircraft from Airbus. With the latest order, Indigo has over 900 aircraft scheduled for delivery till 2035.

 The end users studied under this segment are mentioned below:

• OEM (Larger and Faster-Growing Category)
• Aftermarket

Arrangement Type Insights

• The tricycle category had the largest revenue share, of around 50%, in 2023. It is preferred because it offers improved visibility during take-off and landing, thus offering benefits to the pilot for precise maneuvering of the aircraft.
• In the tricycle landing gear type setup, there is no requirement for a tailwheel, thus simplifying the design and reducing the weight of the aircraft therefore minimizing the manufacturing and maintenance expenditure.
• The tandem category is the fastest-growing arrangement type category because it allows for flexible wings with gears under the fuselage. Often, seaplanes are designed with tandem gear.
• Whereas, the tailwheel arrangement is mostly preferred for small and traditional aircraft.

Arrangement types analyzed during this report are:

• Tricycle (Largest Category)
• Tandem (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Tailwheel

North America - Largest Revenue Contributor

• North America held the largest revenue share in the commercial aircraft landing gear market because it is home to major aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin.
• Moreover, many of the world’s largest carriers in terms of fleet size, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines, are headquartered in the U.S., and they have a massive domestic and international network. As they continue to expand and renovate their fleets, market players will receive lucrative opportunities in the region in the future.
• The APAC region is expected to be the fastest-growing market in the near future because of the growing demand for commercial aircraft in developing economies. As flying is becoming more affordable due to the rise in the income of the middle class, the demand for commercial airlines is also increasing.
• Additionally, Asia-Pacific has been seeing rapid growth in commercial aviation for decades, which encourages general economic growth in developing nations due to enhanced global ties.

Further, regions and countries analyzed for this report include:

North America (Largest Regional Market)

• U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market)
• Canada

Europe

• U.K. (Largest Country Market)
• Germany (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)

• China (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Australia
• Rest of APAC

Latin America (LATAM)

• Brazil (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
• Mexico
• Rest of LATAM

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

• Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
• South Africa
• U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
• Rest of MEA

Competitive Analysis

The market is consolidated in nature because a few major players hold the major share. They include AAR Corp and Safron Landing System. In the industry, most companies focus on MRO services. Additionally, all the big players in the industry have a well-established supply chain to reach their target consumers.

Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Companies News

• In June 2023, Light Land, a lightweight, high-strength composite, was introduced by TISICS, a manufacturer of metal composites for lightweight landing gear.
• In June 2023, UK Innovate awarded Triumph Group Inc. an R&D grant for the latter’s landing gear development program, LANDOne, for the advancement of electro-mechanical actuation technology.
• In March 2023, Lufthansa Technik AG and Emirates signed a contract for MRO services. As per the deal, Lufthansa Technik is performing base maintenance checks, such as C-checks, and overhaul the main landing gear of Emirates A380s.