Alton Aviation forecasts 3.3% fleet growth over next decade

Over the next 10 years, the worldwide commercial aircraft fleet will grow 3.3% annually from 29,000 to 42,000, notwithstanding the ongoing geopolitical and supply chain challenges impacting Original Equipment Manufacturers…


Airplane taking off

Over the next 10 years, the worldwide commercial aircraft fleet will grow 3.3% annually from 29,000 to 42,000, notwithstanding the ongoing geopolitical and supply chain challenges impacting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) production rates, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy.

The global aviation advisory firm has released its independent 2023-2033 Commercial Aircraft and Engine Fleet Forecast, offering detailed insight into the industry’s recovery, alongside a 10-year forecast of air traffic and the active fleet.

The report finds that an uneven aviation recovery will cause OEMs to largely focus on tackling near-term supply chain issues and continuing research and development, but not launch major new programs in the near term. With market pressure for the sector to make more progress in achieving its sustainability goals, OEMs will continue technology development and advancement for launching new aircraft programs in the mid-term.

Alton Aviation

Adam Guthorn, report co-author and managing director in Alton’s New York office, says: “While the aviation recovery is well underway, it remains unbalanced in several ways. While we forecast air traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, this recovery will vary by region, with Asia Pacific not returning to 2019 levels until early 2025.

“This is underpinned by leisure travel recovering more quickly than business travel coming out of the covid pandemic, but with no long-term structural changes in business travel demand. OEMs impacted by skilled labor shortages, parts shortages and manufacturing delays have struggled to ramp up production at a quick enough rate to meet short-term demand for new aircraft.”

Joshua Ng, report co-author and director in Alton’s Singapore office, adds: “While sustainability has become an increasingly important focus following the pandemic, no new clean sheet aircraft family designs aside from the 777X and potential A220-500 derivative are expected to enter into service prior to 2030.

“Instead, with significant aircraft order backlogs for in-production aircraft types, the immediate focus for airframe OEMs like Airbus and Boeing will be operational improvements aimed at increasing production rates to meet current demand, alongside some additional family derivatives.”Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter

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