Global Passenger Transportation Industry
The global passenger transportation industry involves transport operators in various sectors, including rail, airline, cruise, car rental, and electric buses and taxis. Passenger transport operators cater to demand for travel solutions on local, regional and international levels. The number of passengers availing of any of these transportation solutions is dependent on the tourism industry, levels of disposable income and economic growth.
Key Market Segments
- The global electric bus and taxi industry is expected to record nine-fold growth in the decade ending 2022. IDTechEx predicts the world electric bus and taxi industry will be worth $60 billion soon after 2022. While we are currently witnessing a period in which hybrids are increasingly popular in the industry, this will be followed by a period of popularity of pure electric versions. China is set to dominate the global electric bus and electric taxi industry between 2012 and 2022.
- The world passenger rail industry generated revenue of almost $170 billion in 2010, having recorded yearly growth in excess of 4% between 2006 and 2010, according to research from MarketLine. Annual growth in terms of market consumption volumes was close to 5% over the same four-year period, exceeding 2.8 trillion passenger kilometers in 2010. Market growth is expected to accelerate to a yearly rate of over 4% between 2010 and 2015. The passenger rail industry encompasses heavy rail passenger services such as regional, inter-city, suburban and international trains.
- The world airline market witnessed 12% growth in 2010 to exceed $501 billion, according to MarketLine. The industry is predicted to reach almost $714 billion in 2010, representing 42% growth in five years. The world airline market witnessed 6% expansion in 2010, bringing the industry to a volume of over 2.4 billion passengers. Between 2010 and 2015, industry volumes are expected to rise 28% to exceed 3 billion passengers. Domestic represents the leading market segment, equivalent to almost 65% of the overall industry, and the Americas holds a 44% market share in the global airline industry.
- Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation represent the two largest multinational outfits currently operating in the global passenger cruise industry, followed by Genting Hong Kong, reports KeyNote. The US had the leading cruise market in 2011, with the UK and Germany next in line. The EU cruise market has, however, been witnessing a high growth rate, putting it ahead of North America for cruise passenger numbers. Overall, Germany is recording the fastest rate of growth in the global passenger cruise industry.
- Global Industry Analysts predicts the world car rental service market will generate revenue of $59 billion by 2015. The US currently dominates the industry, thanks to effective marketing strategies helping US operators to attract new customers and retain existing customers.
Regional Market Share
- The EU airline market generated revenue of $166 billion in 2010, having maintained 5% yearly growth over the four preceding years, reports MarketLine. Over the same four-year period, industry volumes witnessed close to 3% annual growth to exceed 745 million passengers in 2010. The pace of industry growth is predicted to pick up between 2010 and 2015 to reach a yearly rate of almost 9%. The industry is expected to exceed a value of $251 billion by 2015.
- The Asia-Pacific airline market generated almost $90 billion in 2010, after yearly growth of more than 3% between 2006 and 2010, according to figures from MarketLine. Over the same four-year period, industry volumes rose 6% per year to exceed 600 million passengers in 2010. Industry growth is set to climb to a yearly rate in excess of 7% between 2010 and 2015 to bring the industry to $126 billion.
Market Outlook
Over the coming years, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) will play an important role in the development of the global passenger transportation industry, reports BCC Research. ITS involve various technical fields such as mechanics, telecommunication, electronics, software, cartography, automotives and civil construction. The global ITS market was worth $24 billion in 2010. Market growth is expected to maintain a yearly rate in excess of 22% between 2010 and 2015, bringing the industry to $65 billion in 2010. The Asia-Pacific ITS industry was worth close to $10 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach yearly growth of 24% for the five-year period ending 2015 to bring the industry to almost $28 billion. Combined, the Caribbean and Latin America should record the highest growth rates, bringing the region’s ITS industry worth from under $2.5 billion in 2010 to close to $7.5 billion in 2010 for yearly growth in excess of 26%.
Leading Industry Associations
- American Car Rental Association www.acraorg.com
- Passenger Shipping Association www.the-psa.co.uk
- Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association www.f-cca.com
- National Association of Railroad Passengers www.narprail.org
