Middle East airlines need 2,526 new planes in next two decades
This will take the total number of aircraft in the Middle East region to 3,186 planes by 2036, from 1,178 aircraft at the beginning of 2017
TOULOUSE (France): Middle East airlines will need 2,526 new planes over the next two decades until 2036, mainly driven by a 5.9 per cent passenger growth and increasing connections with major destinations across the world.
Of the total demand, 2,010 aircraft are additional demand, while 516 planes are for replacing an aging fleet.
This will take the total number of aircraft in the Middle East region to 3,186 planes by 2036, from 1,178 aircraft at the beginning of 2017, according to John Leahy, chief operating officer (COO), Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft, who made a presentation on the latest Global Market forecast for the 2017-2036 period. Also, the region will need 52,890 new pilots and 58,200 new technicians for another 20 years, added Leahy.
The annual average economic growth in the Middle East region is estimated at 3.4 per cent for the next two decades. Apart from a robust growth in passenger traffic, the opening up of the Iran market is driving growth in demand for commercial aircraft.
In Dubai, 46 per cent of passenger traffic is origin and destination traffic, with a further 17 per cent accounting for intra-regional connecting passengers.
The connectivity to and from the region has grown dramatically over the same period, with the number of city pairs more than tripling from nearly 200 in 1990 to more than 700 in 2016, added Leahy. The Middle East airlines will also spend US$190 billion on maintenance, repair and operations for another two decades.
Global airline demand
Global demand for aircraft above 100 seats is set to more than double, which is equivalent to a demand for 34,900 additional planes, in the next two decades until 2036. Demand for additional commercial planes is mostly driven by an anticipated 4.4 per cent annual growth in air traffic, COO Leahy told journalists, while presenting the latest Global Market forecast for the 2017-2036 period at the Media Day event organised by the company. The combined fleet strength of all global airlines will touch 40,120 planes by 2036, against 18,890 in 2016 as some of the additional planes are required for replacing existing aircraft.
“(Around) 78 countries had posted in excess of 10 per cent annual growth in air traffic, which is driving growth,” added Leahy. > B2