Manufacturer boosts long-term forecast for sales of 400 seaters and above
Boeing has significantly increased its market forecast for large airliners for the first time since the 1990s as it foresees greater demand for 747-size aircraft and larger.
Speaking at the launch of Boeing’s 2005 Current Market Outlook (CMO), which covers the period from 2005 to 2024, vice-president marketing Randy Baseler said that the company has upped its forecast for aircraft with 400 seats and above, and “large freighters” (with payloads greater than 65t), from 790 units last year to 900, comprising 590 new passenger aircraft and 310 new freighters. He added that the 15% increase in its demand forecast “is largely driven by the growth we’ve being seeing in Asia during the last year”.
The 900 units are split roughly 50/50 between the 747 category (400-500 seats) and the A380 (500 seats and above). Airbus predicts a market for 1,650 airliners/freighters in the 450-seat and above category over the next 20 years.
Last year, Boeing revised its forecast for the large-aircraft category downwards by around 20% from 970 in 2003. Baseler denied that the sudden increased optimism was connected to the fact that Boeing is preparing to launch a stretched 747 derivative, the 450-seat Advanced. The CMO predicts 25,700 new aircraft will be delivered over the next 20 years, worth $2,100 billion.
Source: Flight International
