AIRBUS SOARS IN ASIA PACIFIC

Planemaker delivered 367 new aircraft to operators in region last year

AIRBUS delivered 367 new aircraft to 50 operators, including airlines and lessors last year, cementing its market lead in Asia-Pacific.

Airbus executive vice-president and chief of sales, marketing and contracts Eric Schulz said the figures represented more than half of Airbus’ total 718 aircraft deliveries worldwide, reflecting the importance of the region for the manufacturer.

He added that the region’s de- liveries included about 100 new widebody aircraft, marking the arrival of the long-range A350 XWB with three new Asian operators.

“Airbus had an excellent year in Asia-Pacific in 2017 and we see more potential in the coming years, in particular in the widebody market, where the region will account for 46 per cent of total worldwide demand,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Schulz said the European manufacturer held 60 per cent of the widebody backlog in the region, derived from products like the A330neo, A350 XWB and A380.

Airbus had also won the lion’s share of new business in the region, gaining 65 per cent of the market with 100 new aircraft orders from seven customers.

He said Airbus’ backlog in the region accounted for more than 2,000 aircraft, corresponding to a third of total backlog.

“Accounting for one third of Airbus’ total orders and one third of the overall Airbus in-service fleet, there is no doubt that AsiaPacific is a core market for Airbus.”

Schulz said the Asia-Pacific region would be the world’s largest aviation market, adding that traffic would triple over the next 20 years.

Based on Airbus’ forecast, the region is expected to see an annual increase in passenger traffic of 5.6 per cent, which in turn will require some 14,450 new aircraft over the forecast period.

“This represents more than 40 per cent of global demand, or almost 35,000 aircraft over the next 20 years,” he said.

Schulz said Airbus had retained its leadership in the AsiaPacific region in both the singleaisle and wide-body markets.

“Today, more than half of all single-aisle aircraft flying in the region are A320 family aircraft.

“The Airbus wide-body family records almost 800 flying today and another 350 on order for future delivery, representing 60 per cent of total wide-body backlog in the region,” he said.

Schulz said the A350 XWB was the new long-range leader in the Asia-Pacific region, with 14 airlines already placing orders for 287 aircraft.

“Eight carriers from the region are already flying the modern widebody on long range routes to Europe and the United States.

“The A350-1000, which will see its first customer delivery in the coming weeks, will further consolidate the A350 XWB’s position,” he added.