The Asia-Pacific requirement represents one third of predicted global aircraft deliveries between now and 2028, with the region driving demand for larger aircraft types.
Airbus predicts that Asia-Pacific cargo traffic will increase by 6.3% per year, compared with a global average of 5.2%.
The region will continue to dominate the global air freight market, with the dedicated freighter fleet operated by Asia-Pacific airlines growing five times to 1,500 aircraft. While many of these will be converted from passenger models, Airbus predicts that around 340 new production freighters will be delivered to the region during the twenty-year period. These will be predominantly widebody aircraft and will represent 40% of expected global demand for new production freighters.
John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer (customers), says that Asia-Pacific will overtake the US and Europe as the world's largest air transport market, carrying more than 40% of global airfreight.
Airbus' forecast for the Asia-Pacific region is derived from the company's Global Market Forecast, which foresees total demand for almost 25,000 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at US$3.1 trillion between 2009 and 2028.
