Airbus predicts $1.2 trillion in Asia-Pacific aircraft sales in next 20 years

[News_Editor]

Airbus predicts $1.2 trillion in Asia-Pacific aircraft sales in next 20 years

2011-03-08 06:24:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOULOUSE, FRANCE (BNO NEWS) -- Airbus on Monday announced that Asia-Pacific airlines are expected to take delivery of around 8,560 new aircraft over the next 20 years, which is valued at $1.2 trillion.

The requirement represents 33 percent of new aircraft deliveries worldwide over the forecast period, with the region overtaking North America and Europe as the largest air transport market.

Airbus' forecast for the Asia-Pacific region is derived from the company's Global Market Forecast, which foresees total demand for 25,850 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at $3.2 trillion over the next 20 years. In the various size categories the forecast predicts total demand for 1,740 very large aircraft, 6,240 twin aisle widebodies and 17,870 single aisle aircraft.

The Airbus forecast is based on stronger than average growth in both passenger and freight traffic in the region, combined with replacement of many of the existing aircraft in service. In terms of growth, Airbus expects the number of passengers carried by Asia-Pacific airlines to rise by 5.8 percent per year while the amount of freight passing through the region will increase by 7 percent annually.

This compares with global average increases of 4.8 percent in the passenger market and 5.9 percent for cargo. At the same time, carriers in the region are expected to replace 78 percent of the 3,680 aircraft currently in service, ensuring that they continue to operate some of the youngest and most eco-efficient fleets in the world.

Airbus predicts that the region will continue to drive demand for larger aircraft types, reflecting the concentration of populations in the region around the main urban centres and the need for more seats between fast-growing mega-cities.

As a result, carriers in the region will acquire around 3,360 new widebody aircraft over the next two decades. This represents 40 percent of all widebody deliveries worldwide and includes some 780 very large aircraft such as the A380 and around 2,580 twin aisle widebodies such as the A330 and new A350 XWB.

In the cargo sector, the region will continue to dominate the global market, with the dedicated freighter fleet operated by Asia-Pacific airlines growing almost four times to 1,056 aircraft. While many of these will be converted from passenger models, Airbus predicts that around 270 new production freighters will be delivered to the region over the next two decades.

This represents over 30 per çcent of expected global demand for new production freighters.

The Asia-Pacific region is a core market for Airbus accounting for over a quarter of all orders recorded by the company to date.

Today there are some 1,700 Airbus aircraft in service with more than 70 operators across the region, with another 1,100 on order with customers for future delivery. This represents 32 percent of the company's total backlog, reflecting the importance of the region as the fastest growing market for new civil aircraft.

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