Airport Catering Trucks Market in the U.S. to Reach USD X Billion by 2035 at 5% CAGR Driven by Electric Adoption and Premium Airline Services

The airport catering trucks market is being shaped by several technological and regulatory shifts. On the innovation side, manufacturers are increasingly developing electric and hybrid catering trucks that meet airports’ global sustainability targets and reduce carbon footprints. The trend toward telematics integration, IoT sensors, and autonomous or semi‑autonomous lift systems is making ground operations more efficient, enabling real‑time diagnostics, route optimization, and remote monitoring. According to the forecast, smart‑airport initiatives and modular truck designs are on the rise, enabling catering vehicles to serve different aircraft types and meet diverse airline service configurations.

From a regulatory standpoint, stricter emission norms, ground‑support equipment (GSE) certification requirements, food safety and hygiene standards (especially for in‑flight catering logistics) are driving the need for upgraded equipment. Major aviation authorities and airport operators are mandating greener GSE fleets, prompting catering‑truck manufacturers to align with environmental legislation and airport infrastructure modernization. The interplay of environmental regulations and operational service‑level demands is accelerating the shift away from conventional diesel trucks toward advanced, sustainable solutions.

Regional Dynamics

The regional landscape of the airport catering trucks market shows distinct growth drivers across geographies. In North America, a mature aviation infrastructure combined with fleet‑modernization programmes is supporting steady demand for advanced catering trucks—particularly those meeting sustainability mandates and high throughput requirements. Europe is also witnessing growth, buoyed by strict regulatory frameworks on emissions and the presence of major international hubs that demand high‑capacity catering logistics.

Asia‑Pacific is identified as one of the fastest‑growing regions. Rapid expansion of airline fleets, airport construction, and rising domestic air‑travel volumes in China, India and Southeast Asia are pushing demand for new catering vehicles — including compact vehicles for secondary airports and high‑capacity units for major hubs. The Middle East is another emerging hot‑spot, with expanding passenger volumes and large‑scale airport expansions, which support investments in modern GSE including catering trucks. Latin America, Africa and other emerging regions are gradually contributing to growth, albeit with infrastructure and budget constraints tempering adoption rates.

Competitive Landscape

The market for airport catering trucks is competitive and includes a mix of global OEMs, regional specialists, and aftermarket service providers. Key players are focusing on differentiating through sustainability (electric/hybrid models), customization (truck body types, lift systems), operational services (fleet telematics, remote diagnostics) and global service networks. Among the leading companies are Alvest Group, Mallaghan Engineering Ltd, Global Ground Support Equipment LLC, DOLL Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Jiangsu Tianyi Airport Special Equipment Co., Ltd. and others. These firms are expanding footprints, investing in R&D, enhancing service support and forming partnerships with airlines/ground‑handling companies to gain competitive advantage.

Cost pressures, supply‑chain complexity (especially for electric drive components and refrigeration/lift systems), and need for global service/localisation are among the key competitive challenges. Manufacturers that can offer modular, retrofit‑ready solutions and flexible maintenance/support networks will be best positioned in the evolving landscape.

Key Takeaways of the Report

• The global airport catering trucks market is projected to increase from approximately USD 10.8 billion in 2024 to about USD 22.6 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.2 %.
• This growth is driven by rising air‑passenger volumes, expansion of airline fleets, and airport infrastructure upgrades requiring modern ground support equipment.
• Adoption of electric and hybrid catering trucks is accelerating, particularly in regions with sustainability mandates and modern airport hubs.
• Key challenges include high upfront costs for advanced vehicles, infrastructure limitations in emerging markets (such as charging/maintenance), and cyclical demand tied to aviation traffic.
• Product segmentation shows rising emphasis on hi‑lift, scissor‑lift and multi‑compartment trucks for commercial aircraft catering; fuel‑type segmentation indicates a shift toward electric/hybrid from diesel; regional segmentation highlights Asia‑Pacific, North America and Europe as primary growth zones.

Market Drivers and Key Trends

Several factors are driving the growth of the airport catering trucks market. The foremost driver is the expanding global aviation industry—as passenger numbers and flight frequencies rise, the demand for efficient in‑flight catering and ground logistics increases, requiring advanced catering trucks. Another driver is the push for sustainability in the airport ground‑support segment: airports and airlines are under pressure to reduce emissions and adopt electric or hybrid equipment, which strongly favours modern catering truck solutions. A third important trend is digitisation and automation: integration of telematics, IoT‑enabled diagnostics, real‑time monitoring, lift automation and modular truck architectures are making fleets more efficient and lowering operational costs.

Key trends:

• Shift from conventional diesel‑powered trucks to electric/hybrid models, particularly in premium and high throughput airports.
• Increase in retrofit/up‑grade demand for existing fleets, especially in established hubs, as operators look to extend asset life and meet newer standards.
• Modular truck design enabling flexible configurations (dry goods trucks, hi‑lift, scissor‑lift, galley‑lift) and adaptable service models for different aircraft types.
• Growth of secondary and regional airports in emerging markets, driving demand for smaller right‑sized catering trucks suited to limited ramp space and smaller aircraft.
• Emphasis on aftermarket service, maintenance support and global service networks — as downtime and reliability are critical in airport operations.

Company Profile

As an example, Alvest Group is a prominent global manufacturer in the airport ground‑support equipment space, with a strong focus on electric and hybrid catering trucks. They offer modular solutions with telematics, global service networks and a strong presence across Europe, North America and Asia. Mallaghan Engineering Ltd is another key player, specialising in high‑lift and scissor‑lift catering trucks with customised configurations for different aircraft types; the company is investing in electric variants and expanding its footprint worldwide. Global Ground Support Equipment LLC (US‑based) focuses on compliance with regulatory standards in North America and delivering durable, cost‑effective vehicles with strong after‑sales support. These companies exemplify the strategies needed in the market: innovation, sustainability, customisation and global service.

In summary, the airport catering trucks market presents significant growth opportunities through 2035, underpinned by rising air travel, fleet expansion and a shift toward greener, smarter ground‑support vehicles. Although cost, infrastructure and operational constraints remain, manufacturers and service providers that align with operational efficiency, sustainability mandates and digitalisation stand to capture meaningful value in this evolving market.

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