In one of those rare moments when Boeing and Airbus are on the same page, the two big planemakers have issued remarkably similar 20-year forecasts for how many new planes airlines will need.
Both company’s predictions are for well over 40,000 new planes. Boeing’s guess is 43,975 while Airbus says 42,430; for each, the number is around 1,500 above last year’s estimates. Those new planes would boost the world’s fleet to about 51,000 planes as some older planes are replaced while fleets grow.
But, officials at Boeing pointed out, the return to numbers and demand after the pandemic doesn’t solve supply chain issues and other production problems both companies face. Both companies already have long backlogs, and delays in delivery are affecting airline plans.
Boeing’s estimate is that by 2043, 71% of the total will be narrow-body jets such as the 737 and A320, with twin-aisle planes accounting for 17%, leaving 4% for regional jets and 2% for freighters.
