Airbus forecasts growing demand for aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Dec 16, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said on Wednesday (15 December) that it expected demand for 16,600 passenger aircraft over the next 20 years.

This includes a predicted sharp rise in demand for very large aircraft such as the new Airbus A380 which is expected to enter service in 2006.

Airbus foresees an average of 830 aircraft delivered each year by itself and its rival Boeing Co, reportedly the only two companies that build aircraft with over 100 seats.

According to Airbus, airlines will start deploying larger aircraft in order to make better use of convenient time slots at major airports. The company forecasts that in the period to 2023 around 1,650 new large passenger and freight aircraft worth USD416bn will be required, reports Reuters.

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