What Keeps Airports Moving? How Industrial Electric Motors Power People Movers like Elevators, Escalators, Moving Walkways & EVs

Every day, over 2 million passengers pass through U.S. airports alone. These fliers/travelers use escalators, elevators, moving walkways, and electric "chauffeur” vehicles to ensure seamless travel between terminals, food courts, baggage claims, and gates. While travelers take for granted these conveniences, the machinery behind them—driven by industrial electric motors—plays a crucial role in sustaining the efficiency and flow of airport operations.

For maintenance engineers, facility managers, and buyers, understanding the importance of robust, reliable motors for these systems is critical to ensuring passenger satisfaction and reducing downtime.

How Airports Move Millions of People Efficiently

Airports are fast-paced environments, where any delays can lead to bottlenecks and traveler frustration. From elevators transporting passengers with large suitcases to escalators, and EVs keeping crowds moving quickly between terminals and gates, the smooth operation of these systems ensures the overall flow of the airport.

The Stress of Air Travel

Traveling, while exciting, can often feel stressful. Missed connections, long security lines, and navigating terminals are just a few of the challenges passengers face. However, issues escalate (literally) when elevators break down, escalators stop mid-ride, or moving walkways fail to operate and no EVs. Such disruptions not only cause inconvenience but can lead to major delays for airlines trying to maintain tight schedules.

For airports, ensuring these systems work reliably isn’t just about improving passenger experience—it’s about operational efficiency.

The Role of Industrial Electric Motors

Behind every elevator, escalator, or moving walkway and EV is an industrial electric motor quietly doing heavy lifting. These motors, brakes, gears, and drives control speed, manage weight loads, and ensure each system operates smoothly under stress. The motors for these machines often need to handle 24/7 operations, accommodate varying weight capacities, and maintain energy efficiency.

People Movers in Airports

People Movers in airports are critical for accessibility, whether they’re helping a traveler reach the check-in counter or assisting a baggage cart on its way to departures, also, motors, gears and drives are used for baggage claim when landing in an airport.

Why Elevator Motors Matter

Each elevator at an airport can transport hundreds of passengers and their luggage every day. Typical elevator motors are engineered for frequent use while remaining durable enough to minimize wear-and-tear over time. Additionally, they must comply with strict safety standards to avoid failures.

Spotlight on Marathon® Elevator Motors

Marathon® motors are a favorite in the elevator industry. These motors are known for:

Durability: Designed to handle frequent starts and stops with minimal maintenance requirements.
Smooth Operation: Ensuring an uninterrupted user experience while prioritizing safety.
Low Noise Operation and Low Vibration

Escalators and Their Mission to Handle Heavy Traffic

With crowds moving between security checkpoints, restaurants, and boarding gates, escalators shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining a constant flow of people.

Challenges of Escalator Motors in Airports

Escalators in airports are exposed to heavy foot traffic and constant starts and stops as passengers hop on and off. Motors in these systems must provide precise movement and speed control to prevent malfunctions, even with high loads.

Marathon® Motors in Escalators

High Torque Capability: Ensuring smooth starts and stops, even under heavy passenger loads.
Longevity: Withstanding demanding environments, cutting down on repair frequency.
Reliability: Exceptional consistency to keep traffic flowing during peak hours.

Removing even one escalator from an operation can disrupt the delicate flow of passengers. Marathon® motors help airports avoid such scenarios.

Moving Walkways and the Marathon® Difference

Moving walkways, commonly found in larger airports, are a traveler’s best friend, particularly when navigating lengthy terminals. These systems help people quickly and efficiently travel extended distances on foot.

Unique Considerations for Moving Walkway Motors

Unlike escalators, moving walkways extend horizontally, requiring motors designed for long-duration operation rather than inclined weight loads. They need to provide continuous power without overheating, even in extreme conditions.

Marathon® motors are specially designed with these nuances in mind. Their advanced engineering supports:

Seamless Continuous Operations: Reliable performance without overheating, crucial for walkways spanning hundreds of feet.
Robust Design: Built to withstand constant use over the years with minimal wear.

For maintenance engineers, Marathon® motors offer peace of mind—ensuring the airport can cater to millions of passengers efficiently.

EVs used in Airports Help People

Electric vehicles (EVs) help travelers at airports by providing convenient charging stations for their personal electric cars, reducing emissions from airport ground transportation like baggage carts and shuttle buses, and contributing to a quieter and cleaner environment within the terminal due to their quieter operation compared to traditional gasoline vehicles; essentially making the airport experience more sustainable and user-friendly for EV owners.

Key benefits for travelers:

Charging convenience:

Travelers arriving at the airport in their own EVs can easily charge their vehicles while they are away, alleviating range anxiety and ensuring they have enough power for their return journey.

Reduced environmental impact:

By choosing to use an EV at the airport, travelers contribute to lower emissions, which aligns with growing sustainability efforts in the aviation industry.

Quiet operation:

Electric ground support vehicles like baggage carts and shuttle buses powered by EVs produce significantly less noise, improving the passenger experience within the terminal.

Accessibility:

Airports with EV charging infrastructure attract more EV owners, providing a wider range of transportation options for travelers.

How airports utilize EVs:

Ground service equipment:

Replacing traditional gasoline-powered baggage carts, tugs, and other ground support vehicles with electric alternatives.

Airport shuttle buses:

Electrifying shuttle buses that transport passengers between terminals and rental car facilities.

Rental car fleets:

Offering electric vehicles as part of their rental car options, allowing travelers to rent an EV directly at the airport.

Marathon® Difference

Marathon’s elevator products for People Movers offer reliability and availability. Every manufacturer of electric motors, gears, and drives has experienced a product that goes down. The key to success is, in short, having stock ready and providing customers with peace of mind through excellent service, ensuring that the manufacturer can help. Yes, having the right motor on hand is important, but the customer experience from start to finish is crucial—all delivered in a timely fashion for the customer and, sometimes, their customer as well.

The Cost of Downtime in Airports

Consider this scenario. One escalator in your terminal breaks down during peak hours. Within minutes, long lines form, passengers scramble to identify alternate routes, and airport staff are deployed to manage the chaos. This downtime doesn’t just disrupt operations, it also causes reputational damage that can make an airport appear disorganized.

A study by the Uptime Institute reveals that unplanned system downtime, such as elevator or escalator failures, can cost businesses an average of $260,000 per hour. For airports, the stakes are even higher, with significant financial and operational impacts.

Why Maintenance and Quality Motors Matter

Keeping airport elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in top condition requires diligent maintenance routines and high-quality motors.

Maintenance Recommendations:

Perform Regular Inspections: Check for motor wear, alignment issues, and signs of overheating.
Invest in Predictive Maintenance: Use sensor technology to monitor motor conditions and predict potential issues before breakdowns occur.
Prioritize High-Grade Motors: Select trusted brands like Marathon® to reduce the likelihood of unexpected failures.

By investing in superior motors and regular upkeep, airport facility managers can ensure that their transport systems run smoothly, and passengers remain satisfied.

Power the Future of Passenger Flow

Elevators, escalators, and moving walkways are the backbone of airport transportation, moving millions of passengers efficiently every day. At the heart of these systems are industrial electric motors, and Marathon® motors are trusted to deliver unmatched durability, energy efficiency, and reliability in even the busiest environments.

If Marathon® motors can handle the demands of a busy airport, imagine what they can do for your elevator systems. Contact Marathon® today to discover how our motors can exceed your expectations!