Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region will lead global demand for larger and more eco-efficient aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast

Airlines from the region will take delivery of some 10,940 new passenger and cargo aircraft from 2013-2032, valued at US$1.8 trillion. This represents 37 per cent of all new aircraft deliveries worldwide over the next 20 years, ahead of Europe, North America and the Middle East. In value terms, the region will account for 42 per cent of the global market for new airliners, reflecting the higher proportion of widebody aircraft required in Asia-Pacific.

In the passenger market, the fleet of aircraft operated by Asia-Pacific carriers is expected to more than double in the next 20 years, from 4,960 aircraft today to over 12,130 jets, based on higher than average annual traffic growth of 5.8 per cent and replacement of nearly 3,770 aircraft in service today.

Increasing urbanisation from already high levels in the region means that 25 of the 89 mega cities in 2032 will be in Asia-Pacific. In this period, Asia Pacifc will be home to 90 cities with more than one million passengers. Traffic will increasingly concentrate around these cities, with larger aircraft providing the most efficient means of meeting demand while overcoming airport constraints. As a result, Airbus forecasts that carriers in the region will acquire some 4,130 widebody aircraft over the next 20 years (46 per cent of worldwide demand).

Today the A330 twin aisle aircraft is used extensively in the region by its airlines for international services, and importantly connecting people regionally. This trend will develop further in the years ahead driving the need for 3,350 twin-aisle aircraft, such as the A330 and all-new A350 XWB, and around 780 very large aircraft with over 400 seats such as the A380 for the largest and in some cases most constrained airports.

In the single aisle market, the growth of new low cost operations is stimulating demand for these aircraft particularly the larger types such as the A320/A321. Since 2000, the average aircraft capacity operated by low cost carriers has grown by nearly 50 per cent. In the next 20 year, the region will need 6,810 new deliveries of this type representing over a third of the world total.

“There is no doubting the importance of the Asia-Pacific market both today and in the future. We are pleased that Airbus plays a major role in this great growth story,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers. “All of our products are in the region in significant numbers, and we continue to dominate sales in this region because we have the aircraft Asian-Pacific airlines need."