Aircraft Cabin Interior Composites Market Report

Market Highlights

"The global aircraft cabin interior composites market is likely to rebound at a promising CAGR of 11.1% in the long run to reach US$ 3.6 billion in 2028."

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The aircraft cabin is one of the most discussed subjects in the airline industry today, as airlines’ requirements for aesthetically pleasing, compact, and innovative aircraft cabin interiors show no signs of abating. On one side, volatile crude oil prices severally plummet the overall margin of the airlines, whereas, on the other side, rapidly changing expectations of customers demand airlines keep upgrading aircraft interiors, which again adversely impacts the overall margin of airlines. Low-cost carriers are demanding an aircraft that has the maximum space for seating to generate more revenues per journey, whereas premium airlines targeting high-end customers would like to offer extraordinary passenger comfort to provide excellent customer delight. However, both types of carriers want to maintain value as well as generate maximum returns, thus, wanting a cabin interior that is as light as possible and occupies minimal space and energy.

The aircraft cabin interiors have witnessed an impactful, significant evolution over the past five decades in which composite materials have had a disruptive journey and played a pivotal role in upgrading the overall cabin interiors. All the major tier-II players are working closely with the aircraft OEMs to develop advanced lightweight interior systems that offer excellent aesthetics and aid carriers in improving the overall passenger experience. Composite materials are the perennial choice in fabricating structural parts of those systems, as the materials not only offer the advantages of being lightweight and having a high strength-to-weight ratio but also improve the overall cabin aesthetics. The modernized aircraft cabin interior design is rich in composites, from structural to semi-structural applications.

There are a series of directions in which the aircraft industry is moving today to modernize cabin interiors by satisfying five major criteria: aesthetics, lightweight, space optimization, hygiene, and privacy. Some of the most noticeable movements are the development of lightweight customized cabin solutions to improve the overall customer experience, the enlargement of overhead stowage bins to accommodate more luggage per stowage bin, the formation of maximum cabin space by making necessary changes in the design of galleys and lavatories to squeeze more seats on board (The Aft Lavatory Galley Complex), and the development of compact seats to add more seats. Composite parts are an indispensable focus area for all the major tier players making cabin interior systems, such as lavatories and galleys, to make the system lightweight and aesthetically pleasing without sacrificing performance.

During the pandemic, the aircraft cabin interior composites market suffered a colossal decline of more than 40%. The pandemic has left a huge mark on the growth trajectory of the aircraft cabin interior composites market, from which the industry could not recover soon. Disruption in the supply chain, a decline in air passenger traffic, and a slash in production rates of key aircraft programs were some of the major impacts of the pandemic.

While the industry was expecting to bounce back from 2021 onwards, the temporary suspension of the B787 aircraft deliveries, the economic crisis, and the cancellation or postponement of the refurbishment orders of aircraft thrashed the industry’s hope for recovery. Therefore, the aircraft cabin interior composites market also suffered a hefty decline of over 20% in 2021. However, the industry has progressively started rebounding from 2022 onward, mainly led by the recovery in air passenger traffic and recovery in aircraft deliveries.

Despite the market challenges, the aircraft cabin interior composite market is expected to log a healthy recovery. The aircraft industry is already seeing signs of recovery as airlines rebuild their fleets and passengers return to air travel. The ongoing ramp-up in production rates of key aircraft programs, rising aircraft fleet size, the expected introduction of a new and fuel-efficient variant of existing aircraft programs, increasing penetration of composites in the aircraft industry, and the resumption of aircraft interior refurbishment orders by several airlines are the other factors that will boost the demand for aircraft cabin interior composites in the foreseeable future.

Segments' Analysis

Aircraft Trends

"Narrow-body aircraft segment accounted for the largest market share."

Based on the aircraft type, the aircraft cabin interior composites market is segmented into narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, regional aircraft, and business jets. Narrow-body aircraft is expected to remain the leading demand generator in the market during the forecast period, driven by the increasing production rates of the B737Max and A320 families. Narrow-body aircraft are the most popular aircraft type in the world, accounting for over 60% of the global fleet. This is due to their lower operating costs and high usage in domestic travel. The B737 and A320 are the best-selling aircraft of Boeing and Airbus, respectively.

Composite Trends

"Glass fiber composite segment accounted for the largest market share."

Based on the composite type, the market is segmented into glass fiber composites, carbon fiber composites, and others. Glass fiber composite is expected to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period. Glass fiber composites offer a wide array of advantages, including low cost, good product performance, and excellent corrosion resistance, over their rivals, including aluminum and other metals. Whereas, carbon fiber composites, another considerable segment, are likely to grow at the fastest pace in the market during the same period, driven by their advantages over glass fiber composites, including lighter in weight, higher strength-to-weight ratio, and excellent appearance.

Application Trends

"Cabin lining segment accounted for the largest market share."

Based on the application type, the market is segmented into floor panels, galleys/galley inserts, lavatories, stowages, cabin linings, cargo liners, seats, ducts, and others. Cabin lining is expected to remain the dominant application type in the market during the forecast period, led by the wider surface area of cabin linings. Whereas, duct is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market over the next five years. Using composites in cabin interiors, such as ducts, contributes to weight reduction, enhancing fuel efficiency and overall aircraft performance.

Process Trends

"Sandwich construction segment accounted for the largest market share."

Based on the process type, the market is segmented into sandwich construction, compression molding, and others. Sandwich construction is expected to remain the most dominant process in the market during the forecast period. It is considered an ideal process for producing flat composite panels for aircraft interiors as well as exteriors. Most of the composite parts for aircraft cabin interiors, such as lavatory and floor panels, are largely made through the sandwich construction process. Compression molding, injection molding, and plaster mandrel are the other major processes used to fabricate composite parts for aircraft cabin interiors. They also offer sizeable growth opportunities in the coming years.

End-User Trends

"OE segment accounted for the largest market share."

Based on the end-use type, the market is segmented into OE and aftermarket. OE is expected to showcase an incredible lead in the market during the forecast period, driven by increasing demand for new aircraft across all regions to serve the rising air passenger traffic coupled with increasing production rates of key aircraft programs and the introduction of new as well as fuel-efficient variants of existing aircraft programs.

Regional Insights

"North America accounted for the largest market share."

In terms of regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft cabin interior composites during the forecast period. The presence of a large number of aircraft OEMs in North America, such as Boeing and Bombardier, and tier players is the major factor behind the dominance of the region. Aircraft cabin interior composite manufacturers and suppliers work closely with them to address their emerging market requirements.

Asia-Pacific is likely to witness the fastest growth during the same period, driven by the increasing demand for commercial aircraft to support rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants of Boeing and Airbus in China, the launch of indigenous commercial aircraft (COMAC C919), and rising aircraft fleet size.

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Key Players

The market is fairly concentrated with the presence of several regional and global players. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors, including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc. The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, composite part fabricators, cabin interior manufacturers, OEMs, and airlines. The following are the key players in the aircraft cabin interior composites market:

• Safran S.A.
• Collins Aerospace
• AVIC Cabin Systems Limited
• EFW GmbH
• The Gill Corporation

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.

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Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market.

What deliverables will you get in this report?

The aircraft cabin interior composites market is segmented into the following categories:

Aircraft Cabin Interior Composites Market, by Aircraft Type

• Narrow-Body Aircraft
• Wide-Body Aircraft
• Regional Aircraft
• Business Jet

By Composites Type

• Glass Fiber Composites
• Carbon Fiber Composites
• Other Composites

By Application Type

• Floor Panels
• Galleys/ Galley Inserts
• Lavatories
• Stowages
• Cabin Linings
• Cargo Liners
• Seats
• Ducts
• Others

By Process Type

• Sandwich Construction
• Compression Molding
• Others

By End-User Type

• OE
• Aftermarket

By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft cabin interior composites market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

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