Boeing predicts travel growth

A demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft is forecast over the next 20 years according to Boeing, who unveiled its annual Current Market Outlook last week.  It forecast the world fleet to double over the next two decades.  Both passenger and cargo traffic are expected to grow 5% annually.

"This forecast gives us confidence as we increase our production rates and invest in new products like the 777X and 787-10X", said Randy Tinseth, Vice President of Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.  "Airlines are demanding more efficiency and that is exactly what we'll be giving them".

Boeing noted that the single-aisle market, served by Boeing's Next-Generation 737 and the future 737 MAX, is the main driver of the forecast and continues to show strength.  In this segment 24,670 new planes will be needed due to the growth of low-cost carriers and airlines from emerging markets.

Widebodies, such as Boeing's 747-8, 777 and 787 Dreamliner, also make up a large part of the forecast.  In this market Seattle claims 8,590 new aircraft will be needed, in part by airlines replacing their older fleet with new, more fuel-efficient aeroplanes.  However only about 50 Jumbos remain to be delivered and the A380 is selling slowing, perhaps an indication that four-engined aircraft are an endangered species. www.boeing.com/commercial

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum