Aviation Augmented & Virtual Reality Market

AR and VR in Aviation Industry - 2031

The global aviation augmented & virtual reality market was valued at $0.91 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $23.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 39.2% from 2022 to 2031.

The COVID-19 impact on the aviation augmented and virtual reality market is unpredictable, and is expected to remain in force for a few years. The COVID-19 outbreak forced governments across the globe to implement stringent lockdown and ban import–export of essential raw material items for most of 2020, and few months in 2021. This led to sudden decline in availability of important raw materials for aircraft components. As a result of interrupted supply chains and production schedules caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation production and sales suffered severely, which, in turn, negatively impacted the market for aviation augmented and virtual reality market in 2020. Governments across the globe implemented strict lockdowns and made social distancing mandatory to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Consequently, several organizations began work from home programs as precautionary measure. This led to a sudden decline in global demand for traveling, which has affected the market. However, increase in air travel post pandemic creates immense opportunities for aviation augmented and virtual reality manufacturers in recent years. Various aircraft operators have started using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) solution into in-flight entertainment system for enhanced consumer experience improved passenger experience which is driving the market for aviation augmented and virtual reality market. Passenger transport is gradually recovering and is expected to reach pre-COVID levels by 2023. As air travel demand returns to pre-COVID levels, airlines are expanding their route networks and new airlines are introducing new domestic flights. Such plans are also expected to accelerate the market growth. Incorporation of aviation augmented and virtual reality throughout the aviation industry constantly grows with increased aircraft production and demand. Thus, increase in air travel post pandemic creates immense opportunities for aviation augmented and virtual reality providers.

The aviation augmented & virtual reality market is segmented into Technology, Type, Component, End Use and Function.

Applications for immersive and augmenting display technologies are widespread within the aerospace and defense sector worldwide. In aerospace and defense sector, augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) technology is majorly used to refine skill sets of pilots and crew, to improve situational awareness of soldiers, and training astronauts. . In military, augmented and virtual reality technology plays an important role in creating an ambience similar to actual reality in a cost-effective manner to train soldiers. Products such as headsets, driver training simulator, turret training simulator, crew training simulator, role player station are used in defense and security segment for training purposes.

Factors such as surge in adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) based solution for trainings and marketing purposes, and increase in production and deliveries of commercial aircraft are anticipated to boost the growth of the global aviation augmented and virtual reality market size during the forecast period. However, serious threats to the physical and emotional wellbeing of the end-users, and increase in security issues and cyber threat are expected to hinder the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Moreover, increase in demand from emerging regions and formation of mixed reality (MR) from integration of AR and VR are expected to create opportunities for the aviation augmented and virtual reality market share in the future.

The aviation augmented and virtual reality market is segmented on the basis of technology, type, component, end use, function, and region. By technology, the market is further segmented into marker based, non-marker based, immersive, and non-immersive. By type, the market is classified into augmented reality, and virtual reality. By component, it is divided into hardware, software and solutions. By end use, it is segmented into line civil, and military. By function, it is divided into training, and operation. By region, the AR and VR in aviation industry is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

The key players that operate in this aviation augmented and virtual reality market are Aero Glass, Bohemia Interactive Simulations, Elbit Systems Ltd., Eon Reality, Future Visual, Fountx (TAE AEROSAPACE), Google Inc., HoneyWell International Inc., International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Magic Leap Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Oculus VR, PTC Inc, Sita, Skylights, Inc., Sony Corporation, Upskill (TeamViewer).

Surge in adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) based solution for trainings and marketing purposes

Augmented and virtual reality offers a cost effective and efficient solution in training and skill development as it replicates the real scenarios by using augmented and virtual reality enabled solutions. For instance, in civil aviation or military application, it is costlier to utilize an actual aircraft to train a pilot as it can be harmful for the pilot as well. Securely piloting an aircraft requires dozens of hours of actual flight time, and classroom study to develop, demonstrate, and test the legally recognized skill set and proficiency level, which is necessary to become a licensed pilot. Experiential training provided by AR and VR solutions provides real-time feedback, improves the efficiency of skills transfer, increased knowledge retention, and better captures enterprise knowledge within an organization. Airlines and airports are also using VR and AR to train staff, improve operations and optimize maintenance time. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), AR and VR reduces the duration of training by 25% while simultaneously improving the knowledge retention of trainees by 4 times. Moreover, airline operators are using AR and VR solutions for marketing of their offerings. For instance, Lufthansa is using VR headsets to support upselling upgrades at the gate by showing passengers what business and first-class upgrades look like. Moreover, Gatwick Airport in UK launched an AR-enabled app which helps passengers navigate the airport while also giving them flight departure information and personalized offers. Such cost-efficient benefits associated with augmented and virtual reality-based solutions are expected to fuel the growth of aviation augmented and virtual reality market. 

Increase in production and deliveries of commercial aircraft

Rise in delivery of aircrafts as a part of fleet modernization program drive the aviation augmented and virtual reality market. For instance, in January 2022, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. ran by IndiGo received delivery of 18 aircrafts in October-December 2022, the highest quarterly number for both 2020 and 2021. Also, aviation companies adopt aggressive production plans to meet the higher output rates. For instance, in May 2021, Airbus SE announced increase in production of popular Airbus A320 planes. It also planned to increase production of A220 planes to 14 planes per month.

Aircraft manufacturers expand conversion lines by turning old passenger planes into freight carriers. For instance, in November 2021, Boeing announced plans of addition of three conversion lines for the market-leading 737-800BCF across North America and Europe. Boeing is set to increase its conversion lines capacity by 60% by 2022, while Airbus aims to triple its output of converted A321s and A330s by 2024. Various aircraft operators have started using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) solution into in-flight entertainment system for enhanced consumer experience improved passenger experience. For instance, in September 2018, the Alaska airline begins offering VR solutions to their passenger to first-class fliers on select routes. Moreover, the growing aircraft fleet must go through regular and mandatory maintenance services. This demand is expected to drive the market for AR VR technology to be integrated for MRO and maintenance of aviation aircraft. Therefore, increase in production and deliveries of commercial aircraft is expected to fuel the aviation augmented and virtual reality market during forecast period.

Serious threats to the physical and emotional wellbeing of the end-users

The people using virtual reality have faced eye strain, headaches and, in some cases, nausea. Various experts in AR and VR also said that it is due to the way VR affects the eye-brain connection. Furthermore, a certain percentage of users have experienced motion sickness, anxiety, and severe eyestrain after using VR headsets for prolonged period. The AR and VR technology disconnect the users from the real environment completely, creating physical dangers. This in turn results in cause of retinal radiation which may be a potential cause for eye cancer. Such drastic causes of AR and VR units if not addressed properly affect the adoption rate of virtual reality or augmented reality technologies. Thus, health concerns restrain the growth of the aviation AR and VR market.

Increase in demand from emerging regions

The emerging countries, such as China, India, Brazil and others are anticipated to create new growth opportunities for prominent players operating in the aviation AR and VR market. For instance, in September 2019, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., the China market was projected to witness a strong demand for commercial aircraft over the next 20 years. In addition, according to its market forecast report (2018-2037), 9,008 passenger aircrafts valued at approximately $0.16 trillion (Â¥9 trillion) are estimated to be delivered.

Moreover, Latin American countries expand the aviation sector amid rise in air traffic. For instance, in June 2021, Brazilian Air Force planned to nearly double its order of Saab Gripen fighters. According to the Argentina‐™s Defense Ministry‐™s statement, the government of Argentina announced plans to buy up to $664 million-worth of multipurpose fighter jets to safeguard its airspace. The augmented and virtual reality solutions is expected to provide cost effective, immersive, and interactive solutions for defense aircrafts. In addition, simulation provided by augmented and virtual reality in aerospace applications replicate difficult and dangerous scenarios. This enables trainees to practice crucial scenarios repeatedly while preventing damage to equipment and avoiding physical harm. Thus, these developments are expected to rise the demand for aviation augmented and virtual reality systems which drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

• This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the aviation augmented & virtual reality market analysis from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailing aviation augmented & virtual reality market opportunities.
• The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.
• Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.
• In-depth analysis of the aviation augmented & virtual reality market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.
• Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.
• Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.
• The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global aviation augmented & virtual reality market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

 Aviation Augmented & Virtual Reality Market Report Highlights