Airbus has revised up its market outlook for the Asia-Pacific region, amid optimism over long-term growth, and following a string of headline orders from operators in the region.
By 2043, Airbus is forecasting Asia-Pacific operators – including those in India and China – to require 19,500 new aircraft, representing about 46% of global demand.
The figure is also 3% higher than its previous forecast a year ago, notes Anand Stanley, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific, adding that the growth will come from both narrowbody and widebody aircraft.
He was speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ (AAPA) assembly of presidents held in Brunei.
Airbus forecasts 16,000 narrowbody aircraft and 3,500 widebody aircraft over the next 20 years, both for replacement and expansion needs.
Of the new aircraft deliveries, the airframer expects a large majority - about 71% - to be for fleet expansion purposes, while the remaining are for replacement.
The bullish forecast comes amid “significant growth”, says Stanley, who points out that the Asia-Pacific region will see passenger traffic growth outpace the global average.
Stanley also hails Airbus’ string of aircraft orders from Asia-Pacific operators for the A350 and A330neo widebodies, noting that the airframer’s widebody backlog now makes up just over half of the region’s total widebody backlog.
This year, Airbus picked up orders from airlines like Vietjet, Starlux Airlines and Cathay Pacific for the A330neo, while Taiwan’s EVA Air and Japan Airlines firmed up commitments for the A350.
