Airport Turnstiles Market

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Airport Turnstiles Market is accounted for $1.39 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $2.97 billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 11.5% during the forecast period. Airport turnstiles are access control and security devices used to regulate the movement of travelers into and out of restricted airport areas, including security checkpoints, boarding gates, and customs. These turnstiles increase overall security, decrease the need for manual checks, and guarantee that only authorized individuals enter designated zones, all of which improve operational efficiency. With features like RFID readers, biometric scanners, and ticket validation systems, contemporary airport turnstiles facilitate easy integration with identity verification tools and digital boarding passes. 

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air passenger demand rose by 10.4% in 2024 compared to 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 3.8%. The overall load factor reached 83.5%, marking a record high for full-year traffic. IATA also projects an 8.0% growth in 2025, aligning with historical averages.

Market Dynamics:

Driver: 

Enhanced attention to airport safety

Tighter airport security measures have been mandated by international aviation authorities in response to rising geopolitical tensions and changing security threats. As a first-line physical barrier, turnstiles keep people from entering sensitive areas like baggage claim areas, customs, and boarding gates without authorization. They guarantee that only authorized people can enter restricted areas when combined with identity verification systems. Additionally, this multi-layered strategy helps airports adhere to ICAO and national aviation authority regulations by enhancing surveillance and screening technologies.

Restraint:

Expensive initial outlay and ongoing maintenance

Despite the long-term benefits of airport turnstiles, smaller or less well-funded airports may find the initial cost of installation prohibitive, particularly if the turnstiles are equipped with sophisticated biometric and automation features. In addition to purchasing actual turnstile units, these systems integrate with network infrastructure, surveillance systems, and biometric databases. Furthermore, there are continuous costs associated with software updates, system upgrades, and routine maintenance. The overall growth of the market may be slowed if smaller regional airports or those in developing countries are discouraged from implementing such solutions due to the financial burden.

Opportunity:

Increased demand for automated and smooth travel experience

Airports are vying to provide a seamless travel experience from the curb to the gate. Self-service check-in, automated boarding, smart baggage drop, and e-gates are all part of this trend. Access control and biometric-enabled turnstiles are a perfect fit for this ecosystem. For next-generation smart airports, they are a vital tool because of their capacity to expedite passenger flow, decrease manual verification, and integrate with one-ID systems. Moreover, businesses that provide interoperable and adaptable turnstile systems will profit as this demand increases.

Threat:

Risks to cyber security and system vulnerability

Turnstiles are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks as they integrate with cloud services, biometric databases, and passenger identity systems. A breach could result in serious security incidents and harm to the reputations of airports and solution providers by exposing private passenger information or permitting illegal access to restricted areas. Additionally, growing awareness of these vulnerabilities could lead to reluctance to adopt or more stringent procurement requirements, which would increase manufacturers' compliance burdens.

Covid-19 Impact: 

Due to worldwide travel restrictions, airport closures, and declining passenger volumes, the COVID-19 pandemic initially hampered growth and caused many infrastructure investments to be postponed or cancelled. Airports have adopted touch-free turnstiles with biometric and thermal screening capabilities as part of larger hygiene and safety protocols, but the crisis also increased demand for contactless and automated access control solutions. Furthermore, long-term adoption of cutting-edge airport turnstile technologies was thus made possible by the pandemic, which ultimately sparked a shift toward smarter, safer, and more efficient passenger processing systems, despite short-term setbacks for the market.

The automatic turnstiles segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The automatic turnstiles segment is expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. These systems, which facilitate self-service operations and increase operational efficiency, are frequently installed at entrances, boarding gates, and security checkpoints. They are crucial to post-COVID airport upgrades that prioritize automation and hygiene because of their compatibility with biometric authentication, RFID, QR codes, and real-time monitoring systems. Moreover, automatic turnstiles remain the industry standard as airports work to process passengers more intelligently and quickly while preserving security because of their adaptability, scalability, and close compatibility with digital airport transformation plans.

The smart turnstiles with biometric systems segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Over the forecast period, the smart turnstile with biometric systems segment is predicted to witness the highest growth rate. Faster, more efficient passenger flow and the increasing need for sophisticated security features are the causes of this. By combining biometric technologies like fingerprint scanning, iris detection, and facial recognition, these smart turnstiles provide extremely safe and contactless access. Airports are implementing these systems more frequently because they improve security and the traveler experience. Additionally, the market for biometrics is expected to grow significantly as it continues to develop and become more widely accepted.

Region with largest share:

During the forecast period, the North America region is expected to hold the largest market share. The region's established aviation infrastructure, which includes important hubs like Chicago O'Hare Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, is responsible for this dominance. The use of contemporary turnstile solutions has been further accelerated by the focus on strict security protocols and the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies like RFID and biometric systems. Furthermore, programs like TSA's PreCheck program, which makes use of turnstiles equipped with biometric readers, have improved passenger flow and security.

Region with highest CAGR:

Over the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR. Rising air travel, fast urbanization, and large airport infrastructure investments in nations like China, India, and Southeast Asia are the main drivers of this expansion. China's ambitious plan to build 216 new airports by 2035 and India's digital initiatives like Digi Yatra, which uses facial recognition to process passengers seamlessly, are two examples of how the region is committed to modernizing airport facilities. Moreover, the demand for sophisticated turnstile solutions is anticipated to rise in the upcoming years as a result of these developments.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players in Airport Turnstiles Market include Alvarado Mfg. Co., Inc., Storm Engineering SA, Thales, Gunnebo Group, Hayward Turnstiles, Inc., Cominfo, Inc., Saima Sicurezza SpA, Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik GmbH, Magnetic Autocontrol Group, Royal Boon Edam International B.V., Orion Entrance Control, Inc., Kaba Gallenschuetz, ZKTeco and Dormakaba Group.

Key Developments:

In April 2025, ZKTeco and ScanTech (STAI) AI announced a Teaming Agreement aimed at delivering an integrated, multi-layer security solution to address evolving security challenges in non-government critical infrastructure markets worldwide. The companies’ goal is to enable both organizations to expand their market reach, drive sales revenue, and enhance technical innovation by combining ScanTech AI’s cutting-edge detection solutions with ZKTeco’s advanced biometric and identity authentication technologies.

In February 2025, Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are proud to announce the signing of an initial supply of Laser Beam Riding Man Portable Air Defence systems (LBRM) in response to a requirement set out by the Indian Government to support India’s air defence capabilities. This initial supply of High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) and launchers will be delivered this year and represents the first time that India has received this latest VSHORAD capability.

In June 2022, Dormakaba has signed a 10-year agreement with Avinor Group for the sale and maintenance of 450 Argus Air eGate solutions, making the company an exclusive supplier of self-boarding and boarding-pass-validation gates for all state-owned Norwegian airports. Avinor and Dormakaba have successfully partnered in previous projects.

Product Types Covered:
• Manual Turnstiles
• Automatic Turnstiles
• Biometric Turnstiles
• Optical Turnstiles
• Full-Height Turnstiles
• Half-Height Turnstiles
• Waist-High/Tripod Turnstiles
• Barrier-Free Turnstiles
• Other Product Types

Materials Covered:
• Stainless Steel
• Aluminum
• Plastic
• Composite Materials

Technologies Covered:
• Electromechanical Turnstiles
• Smart Turnstiles with Biometric Systems
• RFID-Enabled Turnstiles
• QR code-based Systems

Applications Covered:
• Passenger Access Control
• Staff Access Control
• VIP Services
• Security Checkpoints

End Users Covered:
• Airports
• Airport Management Companies

Regions Covered:
• North America
o US
o Canada
o Mexico
• Europe
o Germany
o UK
o Italy
o France
o Spain
o Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
o Japan        
o China        
o India        
o Australia  
o New Zealand
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia Pacific    
• South America
o Argentina
o Brazil
o Chile
o Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa 
o Saudi Arabia
o UAE
o Qatar
o South Africa
o Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2024, 2025, 2026, 2028, and 2032
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

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o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
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• Regional Segmentation
o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
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