American aircraft manufacturer Boeing expects the global commercial aircraft fleet to more than double over the next two decades, according to its latest forecast released Sunday.
The number of aircraft in service is expected to reach 48,575 planes by 2042, up from 24,500 currently, Boeing said. This will require aircraft manufacturers collectively to produce 42,595 new planes, half to replace the existing fleet and half to fuel sector growth.
About 23% of the new planes will go to North America, 22% to the Asia-Pacific region, and 21% to Europe. China alone will account for 20% of new deliveries.
The forecast, released at the eve of the Farnborough Airshow in England, is close to the numbers Boeing published last year when it estimated the world fleet would reach 47,080 planes by 2041.
The aviation sector is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and air travel demand is expected to grow in line with global economic growth, according to Boeing. Low-cost carriers are also expected to continue expanding rapidly.
