Middle-East and Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market

Middle-East And Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market Analysis

The Middle-East and Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market is expected to register a CAGR of greater than 6% during the forecast period.

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial aircraft cabin interiors in the Middle East and Africa was at its peak in 2020 due to border restrictions imposed for lockdowns. Limited domestic travel and high dependence on international travel created a significant impact on the business operations of Middle Eastern airlines and airports. However, the gradual recovery of passenger traffic after the pandemic has become a positive contributor to the growth of the market in the region.
• The gradual growth in passenger traffic in the Middle East and Africa is propelling the airlines' fleet modernization plans and route network expansion. Such expansion plans of the airlines are expected to drive the growth of the cabin interior market in the region. The airlines are retrofitting cabin interiors with new lighting, comfortable seats, and extra overhead space to enhance the passenger experience onboard aircraft. This effort is expected to propel the market's growth during the forecast period.
• According to the latest updates from International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Airports Council International (ACI), the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) in the Middle East rose by 149.7% in September 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Favorable growth was also observed in Africa, with African airlines experiencing a 90.5% increase in passenger traffic in 2022..

Middle-East And Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market Trends

In-flight Entertainment Systems Segment is Expected to Witness Highest Growth

• The inflight entertainment systems segment is anticipated to experience the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. The introduction of new entertainment and connectivity solutions onboard aircraft by airlines is the primary factor contributing to this growth. With the increasing demand for the bring your own device (BYOD) concept, airlines are upgrading their connectivity solutions to enable passengers to access high-speed internet on their personal electronic devices (PEDs) for messaging, streaming videos, and playing games.
• For instance, Etihad Airways plans to remove seatback screens in their economy cabin from the A320 and A321 narrow-body aircraft fleet to decrease overhead and maintenance costs. However, the airline will provide entertainment wirelessly through its E-BOX STREAM app, which offers a wide range of movies and TV shows that can be used on passenger PEDs. Additionally, Qatar Airways announced that it would be the first airline in the Europe, Middle East, and North Africa region to enable touchless IFE on the Boeing 787-9 fleet by allowing passengers to pair their personal Bluetooth headphones with the onboard seatback IFE system in all cabins of the Boeing 787-9 fleet.
• The increasing adoption of BYOD is expected to drive significant cabin upgrades, including the introduction of wide-band internet connectivity and in-seat power supply, among others. These upgrades are expected to accelerate market growth during the forecast period.

United Arab Emirates is Expected to Witness Significant Growth During the Forecast Period

• The Middle East and Africa commercial aircraft cabin interior market is expected to experience steady growth, primarily due to the fleet modernization plans of major airlines such as Emirates and Etihad. These airlines are retrofitting their aircraft with new and advanced cabin interior solutions aimed at providing passengers with a superior flying experience.
• In July 2021, Emirates began a comprehensive modernization program for 120 aircraft in its fleet, which involves upgrading the interior cabins and installing the latest premium economy class seats. Once the modernization of the Airbus A380 fleet is completed, Emirates Airlines will commence modernizing 53 Boeing 777 aircraft as part of the same program, expected to be concluded by mid-2025. These cabin modernization initiatives are anticipated to boost market growth significantly.

Middle-East And Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Industry Overview

The commercial aircraft cabin interior market in the Middle East and Africa is highly competitive, with numerous companies competing for a larger market share by offering a diverse range of products. Some of the key players in the market include Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Thales Group, RECARO Holding GmbH, Gogo Inc., and Safran SA. These major players in the market supply cabin interior products directly to aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

However, due to changing passenger preferences, airlines are increasingly retrofitting their aircraft cabins with unique solutions such as new cabin lighting, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, comfortable seats, and extra legroom, among others. This trend is expected to support the growth of retrofit players in the region. Moreover, the development of new cabin interior products is anticipated to help market players increase their market share.

For instance, in June 2022, Safran unveiled VUE and Unity, long-haul business class seats. VUE already has two launch customers, one on the Airbus A320 family and the other on the Boeing 737 family, and will enter into service in 2023. Such new products are expected to attract new retrofit contracts from airlines, thereby helping companies increase their presence in the region

Middle-East And Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market Leaders

Middle-East And Africa Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interior Market News

May 2022: Gogo Inc. announced the launch of the first global broadband service in business aviation that utilizes an electronically steered antenna (ESA) on a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. This groundbreaking service is set to revolutionize business aviation by providing reliable and high-speed internet connectivity while in-flight. The use of ESA technology ensures that passengers can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity even while flying at high altitudes.

June 2022: Safran SA partnered with Audio Futures, Inc. and introduced 360 Reality Audio, an innovative technology that provides a more immersive and realistic audio experience for music and other audio content delivered through headphones during flights. 360 Reality Audio enhances the in-flight entertainment experience by creating an unparalleled level of immersion for passengers. With this technology, passengers can enjoy their favorite music, podcasts, and other audio content as if they were in a live concert or studio recording.