Asia-Pacific will require 19,120 new passenger aircraft by 2045 as the region continues to drive global aviation growth, with passenger traffic expected to expand faster than the global average, according to Airbus.
In its Global Market Forecast 2026-2045, Airbus projected passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% over the period, compared with 3.9% globally.
The region’s projected aircraft requirement represents 45% of the 42,060 new aircraft expected to be needed worldwide over the next two decades.
Around one-third of the new aircraft required in Asia-Pacific will replace existing fleets, while the remainder will support fleet expansion amid economic growth, urbanisation and a growing middle-income population.
Airbus expects the region’s middle-income population to reach three billion by 2045, supporting continued growth in air travel.
Airbus Asia-Pacific president Anand Stanley said airlines were increasingly looking beyond traditional hub-and-spoke networks to connect secondary cities directly to the global economy while expanding long-haul routes.
“By leveraging latest-generation aircraft technology, regional carriers are rewriting connectivity maps and driving long-term economic prosperity in this part of the world,” he said.
