U.S. Aircraft Market Size & Share Analysis - Emerging Trends, Growth Opportunities, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

U.S. Aircraft Market Trends & Drivers

Sustainability and Environmental Innovation Are Trends

• More people care about the environment and prefer to fly with airlines that are environment-friendly, pushing airlines to adopt green practices.
• Governments are creating rules to reduce pollution; so, companies are working on creating electric planes and using cleaner fuels to reduce pollution.
• Moreover, fuel-efficient planes and those that burn cleaner fuels cost less to operate, which makes sustainable technologies a good financial decision for airlines too.
• Sustainable aviation fuels are made from plants or waste, and they can cut pollution by up to 80%.
• Boeing is already testing it to reduce the harmful impact of flying on the environment.
• According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. produced 26.3 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel in 2023, marking a 64% increase from 2022.

Increasing Demand for Air Travel Is a Growth Driver

• After the pandemic, the civil aviation industry has seen growth as more people wish to travel and feel comfortable flying again.
• This is resulting in an increase in ticket bookings for leisure and business travel.
• The rise of low-cost airlines, such as Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines, has made flying more affordable and accessible for a larger segment of the population.
• With the increase in income, more people are able to afford international travel, resulting in more long-haul flights and domestic for international travelers.
• The Federal Aviation Administration handles over 45,000 flights daily, serving 2.9 million airline passengers for more than 29 million square miles of airspace.
• As per reports, U.S.-based carriers have over 3,000 planes on order, the highest among all countries in the world.
• Apart from passengers, the demand for planes for cargo is rising as well.
• As per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, compared to 80,269.091 million in 2023, 83,699.193 million revenue tonne-miles of cargo and freight were flown within and out of the U.S. in 2024.

U.S. Aircraft Market Segmentation and Category Analysis

Aircraft Type Analysis

The commercial aircraft category held the largest market share in 2024. This is due to the high volume of orders for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 to meet the global travel demand. The rebound of the aviation sector after COVID-19, in part due to the rise in tourism, drives the demand for commercial aircraft. Moreover, these aircraft have long lifespans and only require frequent upgrades, maintenance, and replacement.

The military aircraft category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 4.7%, during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing conflicts and geopolitical competition, which push the government to invest in new defense aircraft. Moreover, advanced programs, such as the F-35, NGAD, and B-21 Raider, are driving huge investments in next-generation fighters and bombers. The U.S. defense budget was USD 813.3 billion for air power modernization for the year 2023.

The aircraft types analyzed here are:

• Commercial Aircraft (Largest Category)
• Military Aircraft (Fastest-Growing Category)
• General Aviation
• Helicopters
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Spacecraft & Satellites

Component & Subsystems Analysis

The engines & propulsion systems category held the largest market share, of 30%, in 2024. This is because it is the costliest part of an aircraft, accounting for 20–30% of the total cost. There is a high demand for commercial, military, private, and cargo aircraft. They also require regular maintenance and replacements, even before the airframe wears out.

The satellite payloads & propulsion systems category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because they are smaller and cheaper, but need high-performance propulsion systems and advanced payloads for earth observation, defense, and communication.

The components & subsystems analyzed here are:

• Airframe & Structural Components
• Engines & Propulsion Systems (Largest Category)
• Avionics & Navigation Systems
• Landing Gear & Mechanical Systems
• Aircraft Interiors & In-Flight Systems
• Satellite Payloads & Propulsion Systems (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Thermal Control & Power Systems

Technology Analysis

The autonomous systems category held the largest market share, of 45%, in 2024. This is because it is widely used in military platforms, such as the MQ-9 Reaper for surveillance and combat. It is also used in autopilot systems, maintenance monitoring, and air traffic control support. Moreover, the investments from the Department of Defense and NASA make it the largest category.

The electrification and sustainable propulsion category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because climate change concerns are driving a shift toward electric aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels. Moreover, the FAA and NASA have joint programs for clean aviation technology. The Federal Aviation Administration has been investing in research programs, such as the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise Program, for the development of sustainable aviation technologies.

The technologies analyzed here are:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Autonomous Systems (Largest Category)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Electrification and Sustainable Propulsion (Fastest-Growing Category)

Platform Analysis

The fixed-wing aircraft category held the largest market share, of 55%, in 2024. This is because it is heavily used in commercial airlines, military jets, cargo transport, and private aviation. They are better for long-distance travel, high-speed missions, and large payloads, making them essential for both defense and commercial use. Moreover, all passenger airlines operate more fixed-wing aircraft. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the U.S. civil aircraft fleet consisted of 211,244 active fixed-wing aircraft for both the general aviation and commercial sectors.

The space systems category will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is because of the rising demand for military space systems, including communications, surveillance, and missile defense platforms. Moreover, programs such as Artemis, which aims to return humans to the moon, and NASA–private sector partnerships drive this growth.

The platforms analyzed here are:

• Fixed-Wing Aircraft (Largest Category)
• Rotary-Wing Aircraft
• Space Systems (Fastest-Growing Category)

End User Analysis

The government & defense category held the largest market share in 2024.This is because the U.S. has the largest defense budget in the world, of over USD 800 billion as of 2024. There are ongoing projects worth billions, such as the F-35, NGAD, and KC-46. The government also invests in stealth, hypersonics, and autonomous aircraft.

The commercial airlines category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 5%, during the forecast period. This is because air travel demand has increased after COVID-19 for domestic and international flights. Many airlines are retiring old planes and buying new, fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo.

The end users analyzed here are:

• Commercial Airlines (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Government & Defense (Largest Category)
• Private & Business Aviation
• Others

U.S. Aircraft Market Geographical Analysis

The Northeast region of the U.S. held the largest market share, of 40%, in 2024, because it is home to big aerospace companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. This region has a well-developed supply chain for aerospace parts and services, including high-tech manufacturing facilities, research centers, and hubs that support production. These labs focus on aviation technologies, drones, and aircraft materials, as well as emerging technologies, such as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The Western region will grow at the highest CAGR, of 4.8%, during the forecast period, because it is leading in electric planes and space exploration. Companies such as SpaceX and Tesla here are pushing the boundaries of aviation. Moreover, the West gets a lot of venture capital funding, which helps startups grow quickly. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, California and Washington are leading in aviation economic activity with innovation and technological advancements.

The regions analyzed in this report are:

• Northeast (Largest Region)
• Midwest
• West (Fastest-Growing Region)
• South

U.S. Aircraft Market Share

The market is consolidated as it requires huge capital and investments. Advanced engineering capabilities are also important to make it here. The U.S. government buys most of the military aircraft and gives contracts to companies they already trust, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, as they prefer firms with experience and security clearances. Moreover, big companies can spread out the cost and build more planes cheaply, which is not possible for smaller companies. Furthermore, many small and medium companies have merged over the years, leaving only a few big ones.

U.S. Aircraft Market News & Updates

• In April 2025, Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, signed a long-term agreement with Bristow to support the world’s largest S-92 helicopter fleet.
• In March 2025, The Boeing Company was selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop the Next Generation Air Dominance F-47 fighter.