Boeing: China fleet to more than double in next two decades
Boeing predicts that China will more than double its commercial aircraft fleet in the next two decades as its aviation industry expands, with air traffic in the country to become the world’s largest traffic flow by 2043.
Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president of commercial marketing, attributes this expansion to “economic growth and airlines building their in-country networks”. Between now and 2043, Boeing’s commercial market outlook for China predicts China’s commercial fleet to grow 4.1% annually, with its annual passenger growth of 5.9% exceeding the global average of 4.7%.
China’s total commercial fleet will reach 9,740 aircraft by 2043, including the world’s largest widebody fleet (with some 1,575 new orders expected). Single-aisle growth (of around 6,720 units) accounts for more than three quarters of deliveries, bolstered by domestic routes between major hubs and smaller cities.
Of the 8,830 aircraft projected to be required over the next 20 years, around 60% of these can be attributed to growth, while a further 40% for the replacement of older units with more fuel-efficient models.
To support this massive expansion, Boeing estimates that Chinese carriers will also require aviation services worth $780 billion to support the growing fleet, while the industry will need to hire and train nearly 430,000 personnel to support new pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew.
