Middle East and North African airlines will buy 702 aircraft worth around $45 billion in the next 20 years, the latest Airbus Industrie (AI) market forecast indicates.
Most of the aircraft - 413 - will be needed to meet market growth, while a further 289 will replace models retired from service in 2016.
About 70 aircraft being operated today will still be in service.
Outlining the figures on the eve of the show, AI says the requirement will be for 402 single-aisle aircraft and 300 widebody airliners.
At the end of 1996, the Arab world had 360 airliners of 100 seats and above in service. That will rise to more than 770 by 2016, comprising new aircraft and those still operating.
The AI forecast is based on a predicted traffic growth of 4.3 per cent a year, close to the global average of 4.5 per cent indicated by the research.
It is based on a detailed analysis of 18 carriers in the region.
Source: Flight Daily News
