According to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast in the next 20 years 2013-2032, the traffic to and from Germany is set to grow at 3.5 per cent per annum (global average 4.7 per cent), driving a need for 1,821 aircraft to address the country’s rising international and domestic air travel requirements. The fleet of aircraft serving Germany will grow by 80 per cent from todays’ 1,013 to 1,821 aircraft by 2032 and is forecast to consist of 1,338 single-aisle, 386 twin-aisle and 97 very large aircraft.

Demand in Europe for 5,950 new passenger and freighter aircraft, represents 20 per cent of world-wide demand with a market value of US$803 billion (North America at 20 per cent and Latin America at eight per cent). This compares to emerging markets where growth is stronger such as in Asia-Pacific which represents 38 per cent of the global demand. “Germany is the fifth largest aviation market in the world and will continue its upward trend, but its growth is less than the world average,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. ’’With its airport infrastructure being constrained we see the need for bigger, quieter and more eco-efficient aircraft as confirmed by the number of VLA’s increasing by five times from todays 21 to almost 100 aircraft by 2032.’’

Germany today is the largest export country in Europe and enjoys the strongest economy. It is the world’s fourth-largest economy and because it is driven by exports the importance of aviation for Germany cannot be underestimated.  By 2032, Dusseldorf will have joined Frankfurt and Munich to become one of the World’s aviation mega-cities’

Germany has seven main airlines: Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings, European Air Transport, Germania, Hamburg Airways and Lufthansa. Each airline relies on Airbus aircraft for part if not all of their fleets.  With 387 Airbus aircraft in operation (279 A320 Family aircraft, 19 A300/A310s, 77 A330/A340s, and 12 A380s) with German carriers, Airbus has gained a market share of more than 65 per cent underlining the preference of German carriers for Airbus aircraft. To date, there are nearly 180 aircraft in Airbus’ backlog for delivery to German carriers (150 A320 Family aircraft, 25 A350s and 2 A380s).