Projects $770B Market for New Airplanes
Boeing
has detailed its Current Market Outlook for the Asia-Pacific
region, forecasting a market for about 7,200 new airplanes worth
$770 billion over the next 20 years. Over the forecast period,
Asia-Pacific will remain the largest market outside North America
for new commercial airplanes.
With the continued high rate of growth for Asia-Pacific air
travel and air cargo markets, Asia-Pacific's fleet will nearly
triple to about 8,600 airplanes by the end of the forecast
period.
Nearly 7,200 new airplanes will be needed for future growth and
replacement. Single-aisle airplanes, such as the Next-Generation
737, will be the largest category with total new airplane
deliveries at 3,690 airplanes. Intermediate twin-aisles such as the
Boeing 787 and 777 will comprise approximately 2,430 airplane
deliveries. Regional jets will total 540 units delivered and
747-and-larger-size airplanes will be 510 units delivered.
"Passengers are the foundation of air travel and, in a
competitive market, the airlines will continue meeting passengers'
demands for more direct nonstop flights to destinations around the
world with longer-range, efficient and comfortable airplanes," said
Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president - Sales.
"This requirement will be met by airplanes in the 200-to-400-seat
capacity category, with relatively few very-large aircraft being
needed."
Between Thailand and Asia-Pacific, the air passenger traffic
market is growing significantly. Thai Airways International will
need more airplanes to open new European, North American and
Australasian markets. The national air carrier is addressing the
demand by adding new aircraft to its fleet, including six new
Boeing 777-200ERs to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2006 and
continuing into 2007. The 777-200ERs will join THAI's current fleet
of 91 airplanes, the majority of which are Boeing 737s, 747s, 777s
and MD-11s.
THAI was a launch customer for the Boeing 777 program and has
been operating that airplane from the very beginning. The
exceptional reliability, economics, and efficiency of the 777-200ER
ideally fits the requirements of the airline for its long-haul
medium-density routes.
The Boeing 747, 777 and 787 Dreamliner families are the perfect
combination for meeting the 200-to-400-seat market requirements.
These are the most efficient airplane families, with lower fuel
consumption and operating costs along with greater payload
capacity.
The newly launched 747-8 Intercontinental offers airlines the
right balance of low economic risk and profitability in serving the
large-airplane market. It will use the technologies of the 787
Dreamliner to significantly increase the passenger and freighter
capabilities of the 747. It will offer greater fuel efficiency and
improved operating economics while being friendlier to the
environment with reduced noise and emissions.
Thailand is expected to become a major regional air
transportation gateway in the Asia-Pacific region with the new
multi-billion baht Suvarnabhumi Airport scheduled to begin
operation in June.
Boeing projects passenger traffic within Asia-Pacific to grow 6
percent per year, outpacing the world average of 4.8 percent during
the next 20 years. This robust air travel growth will cause
Asia-Pacific carriers to expand significantly, resulting in the
high regional demand during the forecast period.
Worldwide, Boeing projects that operators will invest $2.1
trillion for approximately 25,700 new commercial airplanes during
the next 20 years.
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