The refueling aircraft market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market size of refueling aircraft has experienced robust growth lately. It is projected to increase from $11.53 billion in 2024 to $12.21 billion in 2025, indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. Factors such as military activities and conflicts, the expansion of commercial aviation, worldwide geopolitical transformations, collaborations and alliances in the airline industry, and volatile fuel prices have contributed to this growth in the past.
The Refueling Aircraft market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The market size for refueling aircraft is predicted to experience significant growth in the coming years, elevating to $15.32 billion in 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%.
The projected growth in this period can be linked to the growth of commercial aviation, advances in refueling technologies, a shift towards more sustainable fuels, and an increase in air force modernization initiatives, alongside regulatory alterations and safety standards. The forecast period also shows emerging trends like the automation of refueling systems, the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), implementation of autonomous technologies, advanced refueling methods, and improved safety precautions.
The surge in air travel frequency is anticipated to fuel the expansion of the refueling aircraft industry. A reference to air travelers refers to individuals choosing to fly. This trend is linked to several factors such as the increasing need for efficient transit, a rise in globalization and business trips, plus advancements in technology for both aircraft and airport services. As the number of air passengers rises, so does the need to operate aircraft, which in turn, raises the fuel usage and the demand for aircraft refueling. For example, in March 2023, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a governmental agency in the US, reported that for the entirety of 2022, American airlines carried 853 million passengers, a significant surge from 658 million in 2021. This signifies the increasing demand for air travel. Consequently, the escalating frequency of air travel is ushering in growth in the refueling aircraft sector.
The refueling aircraft market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Refueling Medium: Air To Air Refueling, Flying Boom Method, Probe And Drogue Method, Tanking Method, Other Refueling Mediums
2) By Component: Aviation Refueller, Dispenser, Refueling Pods, Probe And Drogue, Other Components
3) By Application: Commercial Airplane, Military Airplane, Combat Aircraft, Non-Combat Aircraft, Helicopters
Subsegments:
1) By Air To Air Refueling: Boom Refueling, Probe Refueling
2) By Flying Boom Method: Rigid Boom, Telescoping Boom
3) By Probe And Drogue Method: Single Point Refueling, Multi-Point Refueling
4) By Tanking Method: Buddy Store Tanking, Direct Tanking
5) By Other Refueling Mediums: Ground-Based Refueling Systems, Hybrid Refueling Methods
In the aircraft refueling market, product innovation is the prevailing trend. To reinforce their market standing, primary firms in the sector are concentrating on the creation of novel products. For example, Airbus, a defense and aerospace corporation based in the Netherlands, announced the initiation of the GOLIAT (Ground Operations of Liquid Hydrogen Aircraft) project in May 2024. This venture involves the creation and demonstration of technologies used for managing and refueling airports with liquid hydrogen (LH2). The principal aim of the project is to assist the aviation sector in transitioning towards the use of cleaner, low-emission energy sources by enabling the acceptance of LH2 for future hydrogen-fueled commercial aircraft.
Major companies operating in the refueling aircraft market include:
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Eaton Corporation
• The Flofuel Group
• Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
• General Electric Aviation systems
• Cobham Limited
• Airbus SE
• The Boeing Company
• GE Aviation
• Refuel International Ltd.
• Garsite LLC
• BAE Systems plc
• Rostec State Corporation
• United Aircraft Corporation
• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
• Safran SA
• Parker Hannifin Corporation
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Meggitt plc
• Dassault Aviation SA
• Embraer SA
• Bombardier Inc.
• Textron Inc.
• Leonardo SpA
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
• Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
• General Dynamics Corp.
Europe was the largest region in the refueling aircraft market in 2024. The regions covered in the refueling aircraft market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa