Global major aerospace group Airbus on Thursday released its latest Global Services Forecast (GSF), which covers the aviation services sector. The GSF covers the next 20 years and predicts that the value of this market will climb from the current $95-billion to more than $230-billion in 2041. Airbus also expects the sector to recover to its pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels during next year.

“Every day millions of people in services, hidden champions behind the scenes, keep our global fleet of aircraft flying,” highlighted Airbus executive VP: programmes and services Philippe Mhun. “Alone the number of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance specialists, is set to grow by a further two-million by 2041. Accelerated digitalisation of operations and maintenance as well as a higher proportion of latest generation aircraft in service will lead to a massive requirement for new skills and job creation, leveraging new tools and ways of working in order to further increase our sector’s efficiency, and reduce fuel consumption and emissions.”

The great increase in the need for skilled personnel will be driven by a compounded annual growth rate of 3.7%. In terms of staff categories, the need will be for 585 000 new pilots, 640 000 new technicians, and 875 000 new cabin crew.

Airbus also expects airlines to increasingly outsource their aviation services activities, allowing them to focus more on their core business. Thus, the market, for companies that provide services that improve aircraft availability and efficiency, will grow. Such services in the future will be impelled by the need to be sustainable, and made possible by connectivity, digitalisation and innovation. The aim will be to achieve the maximum possible efficiency to support aviation’s net-zero carbon emission objectives.

“The GSF confirms our strategy and we are ready,” he affirmed. “Customer experience is our priority. Customer value will be underpinned by excellence in sustainable services and new energy transition, fully leveraging our Airbus Skywise digital capabilities. Aviation services will remain one of the most advanced and international industries, keeping our customers and society at large at the heart of our operations.”