Asia freighter fleet 1,056 by 2030, predicts Airbus

The Asia-Pacific region will continue to dominate the global freighter market, with the dedicated fleet operated by the region's airlines growing almost four times to 1,056 aircraft over the next two decades, according to an Airbus forecast presented today by Christopher Emerson, senior vice-president product strategy and market forecast.


While many of these will be converted from passenger models, Emerson predicted that around 270 new production freighters would be delivered to the region over the next two decades, representing over 30 per cent of expected global demand for new production freighters.'


Emerson said that Asia-Pacific airlines would benefit from ongoing strong economic growth across the region, greater liberalisation of the air transport system in Asia and the effect of greater wealth creation enabling more people who have never flown to take to the skies.


"Within the next 20 years, Asia-Pacific airlines will be carrying a third of all passenger traffic worldwide and two thirds of all freight passing through the region," he said. "In order to meet the expected demand efficiently, larger aircraft will be needed to ease congestion and do more with less. With a modern, eco-efficient and comprehensive product line, including the only all-new aircraft in the very large segment, Airbus will be especially well placed to meet the needs of airlines in this region."


The Asia-Pacific region is a core market for Airbus accounting for over a quarter of all orders recorded by the company to date. Today there are some 1,700 Airbus aircraft in service with more than 70 operators across the region, with another 1,100 on order with customers for future delivery.


Asia-Pacific airlines are expected to take delivery of around 8,560 new planes, both passenger and freighter aircraft, over the next 20 years, predicted Airbus. Valued at US$1.2 trillion, the requirement represents 33 per cent of new aircraft deliveries worldwide over the forecast period, with the region overtaking North America and Europe as the largest air transport market.


The Airbus forecast is based on stronger than average growth in both passenger and freight traffic in the region, combined with replacement of many of the existing aircraft in service. In terms of growth, Airbus expects the number of passengers carried by Asia-Pacific airlines to rise by 5.8 per cent per year while the amount of freight passing through the region will increase by seven per cent annually. This compares with global average increases of 4.8 per cent in the passenger market and 5.9 per cent for cargo.


Airbus predicts that the Asia-Pacific region will continue to drive demand for larger aircraft types, reflecting the concentration of populations in the region around the main urban centres and the need for more seats between fast-growing mega-cities. As a result, carriers in the region will acquire around 3,360 new wide-body aircraft over the next two decades. This represents 40 per cent of all wide-body deliveries worldwide and includes some 780 very large aircraft such as the A380 and around 2,580 twin aisle wide-bodies such as the A330 and the new A350 XWB.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)