Europe to replace nearly 90% of current fleet by 2027: Boeing

Boeing expects almost 90% of aircraft in the current European fleet to be replaced by newer types over the next two decades, underlining the trend laid out in its latest market forecast.

Europe’s current fleet amounts to some 4,400 aircraft and just 500 airframes are predicted to be retained by 2027.

Boeing released the figures as part of its 20-year market forecast, details of which were released at a briefing in London today by Commercial Airplanes vice-president of marketing Randy Tinseth.

European operators will require about 6,900 new aircraft over the period of which 71% will be single-aisle types and 22% will be twin-aisle. These aircraft will be collectively worth $740 billion, and will account for 93% of the overall European fleet in 20 years’ time.

The fleet mix across Europe, predicts Boeing, will change as the proportion of regional aircraft falls from 13% today to just 5% in 2027. Tinseth attributes this shrinking of the regional jet market to fuel, congestion and environmental pressures.

Single-aisle aircraft will account for 70% of the European fleet, slightly higher than today’s figure, but the proportion of twin-aisle aircraft will rise from 15% to 22%.