The global escalator and moving walkway market is projected to grow from $19.13 billion in 2025 to $25.52 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 6 percent, according to a 250-page report published by Research and Markets on March 2, 2026. The segment represents roughly 12 to 15 percent of the broader vertical transportation market but is growing at a pace that reflects the convergence of aging transit infrastructure, airport expansion worldwide, and energy efficiency mandates that are forcing replacement of equipment installed 30 and 40 years ago. There are approximately 40,000 escalators and 12,000 moving walkways installed across the United States alone, and the replacement cycle for the oldest units is now fully underway.
The scale of current transit contracts tells the story. Otis was awarded a contract for 172 escalators across the London Underground network, valued at approximately 430 million pounds over a 16-year term with an option to extend to 19 years, starting April 2026. The contract covers maintenance and modernization for more than 300 of Transport for London's roughly 570 total escalators, units that operate up to 20 hours daily serving 1.2 billion passenger journeys per year. It is a fitting return for the company that installed the very first Tube escalator at Earl's Court in 1911. In Washington, KONE is nearing completion on a $179 million, seven-year contract to replace 130 escalators across 32 Metro stations. As of September 2025, 122 of 145 escalators had been replaced, with full completion expected by spring 2026. High-profile stations including Rosslyn, Metro Center, and Dupont Circle North are receiving units to replace originals dating back to 1976 and 1977. In New York, the MTA completed 32 escalator replacements in 2025 and has budgeted 28 more across 80 stations as part of its $68 billion 2025-2029 capital plan.
Airport infrastructure is adding fuel to the demand. Sacramento International Airport's $140 million pedestrian walkway and skybridge project, which broke ground in August 2024, includes moving walkways, escalators, and elevators connecting Terminal B to Concourse B, with completion targeted for spring 2026. The LAX Automated People Mover, which will connect the Metro Transit Center that opened in June 2025 directly to airport terminals, is expected to begin service in 2026. In Mumbai, the CSMIA Terminal 2 metro station is installing 14 escalators, eight of which will stand at 19.15 meters, making them the tallest in India. These are not isolated projects. They reflect a global pattern of airports and transit systems simultaneously upgrading infrastructure that was built for traffic volumes and safety standards that no longer apply.
The technology embedded in new escalators has advanced substantially from the units they replace. KONE's TransVario drive reduces energy consumption by up to 16 percent, and eight KONE escalator and autowalk models have earned the highest A+++ energy classification. Regenerative drives across manufacturers are recovering 20 to 40 percent of total energy consumption, with KONE reporting that Hotel Verde in Cape Town achieved 70 percent less energy use than conventional systems. Schindler's CleanMobility line introduced UV-treated handrails and motion-activated fixtures, a direct response to hygiene expectations that solidified during COVID. TK Elevator's Velino series and iWalk pallet-type moving walkway integrate its MAX predictive maintenance platform for real-time monitoring, deployed most recently on 23 new Victoria-type escalators in the Cologne subway system. Mitsubishi Electric remains the only manufacturer of spiral escalators worldwide, with its first European installation at Harrods in London completed in 2025.
The competitive landscape mirrors the elevator market but with tighter concentration. The top five manufacturers, KONE, Otis, Schindler, TK Elevator, and Mitsubishi Electric, hold approximately 52 percent of the global escalator market, with Fujitec and Hyundai Elevator rounding out the top tier. Asia-Pacific dominates volume at 54 to 62 percent of global consumption, driven by urbanization in China and India, though KONE and Otis both noted in their 2025 results that China's property market continued to face significant pressure with no signs of recovery. North America and Europe are modernization-heavy markets where the growth is coming not from new construction but from replacing equipment that has reached end of life in transit systems, commercial buildings, and retail environments.
For elevator constructors, escalator work falls under the same IUEC jurisdiction and NEBA collective bargaining agreement but requires a distinct skill set. Escalator installation involves heavy rigging and crane work to position truss sections weighing two to four metric tons at precise angles into floor openings. The mechanical systems are fundamentally different from elevator work: continuous-loop step chains, friction-driven handrails, combplate alignment, and balustrade assembly. NEIEP apprenticeship programs cover escalator-specific training in the final semester, addressing truss assembly, step chains, drive systems, and handrail mechanics. The union recognizes escalator-specific classifications including Escalator Handrail Mechanic and Escalator Handrail Helper. With transit agencies on both coasts running multiyear replacement programs and airports expanding globally, the demand for constructors with escalator experience is growing alongside the broader market.