Authors:
Avinash Singh, Amit Patil
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Moving Walkways Market Size & Share 2026-2035
Report ID: GMI10152
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Published Date: October 2026
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Moving Walkways Market
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Moving Walkways Market Size
The moving walkways market was valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2025, rising to USD 3.0 billion in 2026, and is forecast to expand at a 5.9% CAGR (2026-2035) to reach USD 4.9 billion by 2035. The market covers belt-type and pallet-type systems in horizontal, inclined, and curved configurations for airport terminals, transit corridors, retail facilities, commercial buildings, and institutional sites.
Moving Walkways Market Key Takeaways
Market Leader: Schindler Group led with over 17.8% market share in 2025.
Leading Players: Top 5 players in this market include Schindler Group, KONE Corporation, TK Elevator, Otis Worldwide Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, which collectively held a market share of 65.4% in 2025.
The moving walkways market is shaped by infrastructure programs in which passenger circulation is specified early, alongside an installed base that supports modernization and service demand. Airport and metro projects favor suppliers able to coordinate equipment, civil-interface requirements, commissioning, and long-term maintenance without interrupting operations.
GMI Analyst View
Our analysis of company earnings disclosures and underlying order flow data indicates that the moving walkways market recorded 7.3% year-on-year revenue growth in 2025. We view this base-year acceleration as evidence that airport recovery and terminal-expansion contracting created a firmer entry point to the forecast period, particularly where new capacity programs combine equipment procurement with long-duration service opportunities.
Moving Walkways Market Trends, Growth Drivers & GMI Forecast Outlook
Airport capacity additions, metro construction, and a higher technical specification threshold are expanding the addressable project pipeline. At the same time, constrained capital budgets and difficult retrofit conditions concentrate the strongest demand in greenfield terminals, major expansions, and facilities where passenger-flow benefits clearly justify civil works.
Key Drivers
Airport projects are the most direct route to larger moving-walkway packages because passenger movement, baggage handling, accessibility, and gate-turnaround performance must be considered together. International airport passenger traffic increased 6.1% in 2025, reinforcing the investment rationale for terminals with long piers, satellite gates, and inter-terminal links [1]Airports Council International. "Global airport passenger traffic reaches record 9.8 billion in 2025." aci.aero. Once included in terminal design, walkways are difficult to remove without compromising circulation assumptions, which gives specification-stage decisions unusual commercial importance.
Metro programs provide a second, less airport-dependent demand stream. Long transfers between platforms, paid-area corridors, and interchange halls create operational settings where walking distance is not merely a comfort issue. Procurement is therefore tied to station geometry and network expansion rather than to a single customer category. Connected controls, variable-speed operating modes, and condition monitoring further lift equipment content where operators prioritize lifecycle visibility.
Key Restraints
Evidence anchors use cited external data; demand implications and forecast conditions represent GMI analysis.
Capital allocation is the principal limiting factor in mature facilities. Walkways compete with airfield safety work, structural renewal, security systems, and digital programs, while installation requires civil work and operational planning beyond the equipment purchase itself. Where existing systems remain serviceable, operators can extend maintenance contracts and defer a larger replacement decision.
Legacy sites introduce a separate constraint. In older transit stations, shopping centers, and commercial facilities, floor loading, pit depth, ceiling clearance, and machinery access can make modernization disproportionately expensive. The resulting demand is selective: replacement is strongest where compliance, failure risk, capacity pressure, or a wider redevelopment project creates a compelling trigger.
GMI Analyst View
We see a divided demand environment rather than a uniform infrastructure cycle. Greenfield and major-expansion projects support higher-specification equipment and stronger service attachment, while replacement-led markets remain sensitive to budget timing and site constraints. The strategic advantage lies with suppliers that can win complex projects and retain the installed base through maintenance.
Moving Walkways Market Segment Analysis
By Product Type
Belt type moving walkways generated USD 1.8 billion in 2025 and are projected to reach USD 3.0 billion by 2035. The moving walkways market continues to rely on this format for level passenger circulation because it is familiar to facility operators, accommodates luggage and mobility aids, and fits a broad range of indoor terminal, retail, and transit layouts.
Pallet type moving walkways are projected to reach USD 1.9 billion by 2035 and are forecast to grow at a 6.2% CAGR (2026-2035). Their higher load-bearing capability and mechanical durability make them particularly relevant to long, intensive-duty corridors where luggage carts, high throughput, and service continuity carry greater weight in the specification decision.
By Inclination & Orientation
Horizontal moving walkways generated USD 1.6 billion in 2025 and are projected to account for 53% of market revenue by 2035. They remain the practical default for airport piers, level transit connections, and retail corridors, where their straightforward geometry simplifies integration with surrounding circulation space.
Inclined moving walkways are projected to generate USD 1.8 billion by 2035 and represented 34% of market revenue in 2025. Their use is supported by multi-level terminal and retail designs where the ability to carry wheeled baggage and mobility aids between levels differentiates them from conventional escalator alternatives.
Curved moving walkways represented 11% of market revenue in 2025 and are forecast to grow at a 5.2% CAGR (2026-2035). Demand is concentrated in architecturally constrained corridors, premium terminals, and other sites where a straight run cannot satisfy the required circulation path.
By Speed Type
Constant speed moving walkways (CMW) generated USD 2.2 billion in 2025 and are projected to hold 69% of market revenue by 2035. Their established compliance profile, simpler mechanical architecture, and broad service familiarity preserve their role across mainstream airport, transit, and commercial applications.
Accelerating moving walkways (AMW) are projected to account for 31% of market revenue by 2035 and are forecast to grow at a 7.9% CAGR (2026-2035). Their strongest case is in lengthy airport corridors where faster central-zone travel can improve passenger circulation, although higher capital cost and specialized service requirements limit adoption outside high-throughput facilities.
By Application
Airports generated USD 1.2 billion in 2025 and are projected to represent 43% of market revenue by 2035. Airport projects combine long procurement horizons, multiple units per site, and operational requirements that elevate moving walkways from an amenity to core passenger-flow infrastructure.
Shopping centers & retail facilities are projected to generate USD 1.0 billion by 2035 and represented 21% of market revenue in 2025. Demand is strongest in large, multi-level developments, while retrofit decisions in mature retail markets remain more selective because operators must weigh passenger convenience against civil-work cost and uncertain footfall.
Public transit represented 17% of market revenue in 2025 and is projected to generate USD 0.8 billion by 2035. Interchange stations and rail hubs create demand where long transfer paths can impair throughput and accessibility, giving transit authorities a practical reason to incorporate walkways into new station designs.
Hotels & commercial buildings are projected to generate USD 0.5 billion by 2035 and represented 10% of market revenue in 2025. This segment is driven by premium mixed-use projects, convention venues, and large campuses, where the installation decision is more project-specific and discretionary than in transport infrastructure.
Institutional applications generated USD 0.2 billion in 2025 and are projected to represent 6% of market revenue by 2035. Hospitals, universities, and public facilities can justify installations where accessibility and internal travel distance are important, but constrained public capital budgets moderate project conversion.
Other applications are projected to account for 5% of market revenue by 2035 and are forecast to grow at a 7.2% CAGR (2026-2035). Exhibition centers, sports venues, theme parks, and industrial sites widen the customer base where visitor circulation and venue design support an installation case.
GMI Analyst View
We expect product mix to matter as much as unit demand. Airport-led projects increasingly reward formats that improve travel time, accessibility, and lifecycle monitoring, while conventional systems retain a broad installed-base advantage. The emerging opportunity is not a wholesale replacement of established configurations, but a more differentiated specification market across project types.
Moving Walkways Market Regional Analysis
North America Moving Walkways Market Analysis
North America generated USD 0.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to account for 27% of global revenue by 2035. The moving walkways market in the region is primarily replacement- and modernization-led, with large airports and transit systems providing the strongest project base while constrained passenger growth and capital prioritization defer some full-system replacements.
U.S.
The U.S. generated USD 0.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to hold 83% of North American revenue by 2035. Large airport campuses, urban transit systems, and long-standing OEM service relationships support demand, while federally funded procurement and domestic-content considerations can add complexity to supplier qualification.
Canada
Canada is projected to generate USD 0.2 billion by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 4.4% CAGR (2026-2035). Terminal maintenance, selected transit upgrades, and commercial development support a steady but measured procurement environment centered on the country's principal metropolitan markets.
Europe Moving Walkways Market Analysis
Europe is projected to generate USD 0.9 billion by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 3.7% CAGR (2026-2035). The moving walkways market is defined by a mature installed base in airports, rail stations, and commercial facilities, where energy efficiency, safety compliance, and operational continuity shape modernization decisions more than greenfield construction.
Germany
Germany represented 20% of European revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 4.0% CAGR (2026-2035). Airport and rail infrastructure, together with a substantial domestic engineering and OEM presence, support replacement demand where system availability and service capability are critical.
UK
The UK is projected to generate USD 0.2 billion by 2035 and represented 18% of European revenue in 2025. Airport capacity projects are central to demand; Stansted's planned passenger skylinks demonstrate how major terminal programs can create concentrated walkway procurement tied to wider circulation redesign [5]Construction Management. "Farrans to build skylinks for Stansted's £1.1bn expansion." constructionmanagement.co.uk.
France, Italy, and Spain
France held 16% of European revenue in 2025, centered on Paris airports and the Parisian metro and RER network. Italy, at 12% of European regional revenue, and Spain, at 10%, reflect demand from major international hubs - Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Madrid Barajas, and Barcelona El Prat - alongside commercial real estate and transit installations. Growth in these markets is moderate, tracking near the European average as replacement cycles rather than new-build demand predominate.
Asia Pacific Moving Walkways Market Analysis
Asia Pacific represented 34% of global revenue in 2025 and is projected to generate USD 2.0 billion by 2035. The moving walkways market in the region benefits from airport construction, metro expansion, and large-scale mixed-use development, creating a project mix more heavily weighted toward new infrastructure than in replacement-led mature markets.
China
China generated USD 0.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to hold 38% of Asia Pacific revenue by 2035. Airport and metro construction sustain demand, while domestic manufacturers compete strongly in public-sector and transit procurement through local market access, pricing, and established authority relationships.
Japan
Japan represented 14% of Asia Pacific revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 5.8% CAGR (2026-2035). Demand is anchored in airport modernization and rail-network replacement, with a more mature infrastructure profile limiting the contribution from domestic greenfield airport construction.
India
India is projected to generate USD 0.4 billion by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 10.2% CAGR (2026-2035). Greenfield airports, terminal-capacity additions, and metro network construction create a broad specification pipeline in which walkway requirements can be incorporated early in facility design.
South Korea
South Korea represented 7% of Asia Pacific revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 5.8% CAGR (2026-2035). Airport modernization and urban transit investment support demand, with technically demanding installations favoring suppliers with strong service and commissioning capabilities.
Australia
Australia is projected to account for 4% of Asia Pacific revenue by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 5.2% CAGR (2026-2035). Airport modernization and selective transit investments sustain demand, although the market's mature infrastructure base favors replacement activity over large-volume new-build procurement.
Latin America Moving Walkways Market Analysis
Latin America represented 7% of global revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 5.3% CAGR (2026-2035). Airport investments in major capitals and uneven transit expansion create a selective opportunity set, with project timing influenced by public budgets, financing availability, and broader economic conditions.
Brazil
Brazil represented 50% of Latin American revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 5.3% CAGR (2026-2035). Its scale in regional aviation and major urban transit systems makes it the most significant market for modernization and new-project procurement in the region.
Mexico
Mexico is projected to account for 28% of Latin American revenue by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 3.5% CAGR (2026-2035). Airport and metro projects support demand, but capital competition across infrastructure priorities constrains the pace of equipment investment.
Argentina
Argentina represented 10% of Latin American revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 3.0% CAGR (2026-2035). Limited public capital availability and difficult contract-pricing conditions restrict the depth of the addressable modernization pipeline.
Middle East & Africa Moving Walkways Market Analysis
Middle East & Africa is projected to generate USD 0.4 billion by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 6.6% CAGR (2026-2035). Demand is led by Gulf aviation and tourism infrastructure, where major hub expansions favor premium specifications, large project packages, and long-term OEM service arrangements.
UAE
The UAE represented 25% of Middle East & Africa revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 6.6% CAGR (2026-2035). Dubai and Abu Dhabi airport development supports continued demand for walkway systems in capacity additions and terminal modernization.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is projected to account for 25% of Middle East & Africa revenue by 2035 and is forecast to grow at a 6.6% CAGR (2026-2035). Aviation expansion, airport-capacity programs, and urban transit development create a pipeline in which suppliers with installation and lifecycle-service capability are well positioned.
South Africa
South Africa represented 10% of Middle East & Africa revenue in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a 5.8% CAGR (2026-2035). Demand is concentrated around major airports, commercial sites, and urban infrastructure, creating a durable but comparatively narrow regional opportunity.
GMI Analyst View
We expect the market's geographic center of gravity to continue moving toward Asia Pacific and the Gulf. The key distinction is not simply faster infrastructure spending, but the different commercial model: greenfield and expansion projects support earlier specification influence, larger package opportunities, and deeper potential for service attachment than fragmented replacement activity.
Moving Walkways Market Share & Competitive Landscape
The moving walkways market share structure is moderately concentrated, with the five leading participants holding approximately 65.4% of global revenue in 2025. Competition centers on specification-stage access, project execution, installed-base service coverage, digital monitoring capability, and the ability to manage technically demanding work in live transport environments.
Schindler Group held a 17.8% market share in 2025. Its integrated equipment, installation, and service model supports competitiveness at large airports and transit sites where customer relationships, uptime expectations, and long-term maintenance commitments influence supplier selection.
KONE Corporation held a 16.1% market share in 2025. Its position is reinforced by energy-efficient product offerings and connected-service capabilities that align with modernization programs seeking lower operating intensity and stronger asset visibility.
TK Elevator held a 12.3% market share in 2025. The company competes through its global project experience and predictive-maintenance proposition, particularly where airport and transit buyers place a premium on operational continuity and remote performance monitoring.
Otis Worldwide Corporation remains a leading global participant through its international service network, established airport relationships, and premium moving-walk portfolio. Its competitive relevance is strongest in high-specification installations where technical delivery and lifecycle support are integral to the purchasing decision.
Chinese regional manufacturers, including Xizi Elevator, BLT/Shenyang Yuanda, SJEC Corporation, Sicher Elevator, Guangri Elevator, and Canny Elevator, are material competitors in domestic procurement. Their advantages include local relationships, cost positioning, and familiarity with public-sector infrastructure processes, although their international service reach is generally narrower than that of the largest global OEMs.
Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitec, Hitachi, Hyundai Elevator, Toshiba Elevator, Orona Group, Kleemann Group, Suzhou Diao, Joylive, Nidec Qingdao, and Sujie/Surapid further broaden the competitive field. The market therefore combines global tender competition for major international hubs with more localized rivalry in protected or relationship-driven public infrastructure markets.
Recent Industry Developments
London Stansted Airport skylinks with moving walkways (August 2026): Manchester Airports Group appointed Farrans Construction to develop passenger skylinks for Stansted Airport's terminal expansion. The project incorporates moving walkways linking the main terminal and satellite facilities, illustrating how circulation infrastructure is being embedded in wider terminal redevelopment programs [5]Construction Management. "Farrans to build skylinks for Stansted's £1.1bn expansion." constructionmanagement.co.uk.
CPK Poland competitive dialogue for passenger transport systems (April 2026): Centralny Port Komunikacyjny launched a competitive dialogue with Otis, KONE, Schindler, and TK Elevator for passenger-transport systems across Poland's planned airport terminal, piers, rail station, interchange hub, and related facilities. The procurement includes design, supply, installation, commissioning, and long-term maintenance [6]Centralny Port Komunikacyjny. "Key procedure for Poland's new airport: launch of a competitive dialogue with four companies." portpolska.pl.
Otis Incheon International Airport project recognition (December 2025): Otis Worldwide Corporation received an Elevator World project award in the Moving Walks category for work in the extended Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport. The project demonstrates the technical complexity and visibility associated with large airport walkway installations in Asia Pacific [7]Otis Worldwide Corporation. "Otis New Equipment Project Wins Industry Award." stocktitan.net.
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