Airbus: Asia-Pacific driving global aviation with requirement for 19,120 new aircraft

The Asia-Pacific region will continue to be the key driver of global aviation growth over the next two decades, according to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF 2026 – 2045). With passenger traffic growth in the region projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, outpacing the global average of 3.9%, traffic volumes will more than double over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is projected to require 19,120 new passenger aircraft, representing 45% of the total global demand for 42,060 new aircraft over this period. Of the 19,120 new passenger aircraft needed over the next two decades in the Asia-Pacific region, one third will be for replacement and the remainder for growth. Driving this growth are robust economic fundamentals. By 2045, the middle income population in Asia-Pacific is projected to reach three billion people. Coupled with rapid urbanisation, air travel is increasingly becoming the essential lifeline for social and economic prosperity. In the different aircraft size categories, the region will account for the lion’s share of all widebody deliveries, with demand for 3,420 new aircraft. That represents almost half of all new widebody aircraft. The demand in Asia-Pacific also remains strongly anchored on single-aisle capacity with 15,700 aircraft in the 100-244 seat size category required by 2045, reflecting ongoing domestic and intra-regional network expansion, driven by fleet replacement and long-term capacity growth. Increased connectivity is being realised through the strategic development of new airport infrastructure and the deployment of longer-range, versatile single-aisle aircraft like the A321XLR and the A220, unlocking new city pairs and bypassing traditional mega-hubs and connecting secondary cities. “We are seeing an evolution in the Asia-Pacific networks and how they connect,” said Anand Stanley, President Airbus in Asia-Pacific. “Alongside sustained expansion in long-haul networks, airlines are decentralising beyond traditional hub-and-spoke models to connect secondary cities directly to the global economy. By leveraging latest generation aircraft technology, carriers in the region are rewriting connectivity maps and driving the region’s long-term economic prosperity.” By the end of August 2026, 119 airlines in Asia-Pacific operated 5,000 Airbus commercial aircraft, with a market share of 58%, with nearly 3,500 aircraft on order for future delivery. This represents 61% of the backlog for all aircraft manufacturers in the above 100 seat jet market. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]