BOEING FORECASTS that China has a demand for 6,020 new aircraft valued at $870 billion over the next 20 years. The US manufacturer released its Current Market Outlook (CMO) in Beijing on September 4, and it shows that Chinese carriers will take delivery of nearly 45% of the total demand across the Asia Pacific region during the forecast period. “China’s aviation market is going through dynamic changes,” said Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s Vice President of Marketing.
“New business models such as low-cost carrier and leasing companies, the latest generation of fuel-efficient aeroplanes and evolving customer needs are driving demand for more direct flights to more destinations,” he added. The new CMO also shows how emerging start-up airlines and low-cost carriers stimulate traffic and allow more people to fly. In the forecast, tourism in China and intra-Asian travel supports a strong demand for single-aisle jets, with total deliveries reaching 4,340 through to 2033. Chinese carriers with large global networks continue to look for opportunities to expand as international flying increases from more secondary cities in addition to from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. This growth in the long-haul segment is expected to result in demand for an additional 1,480 fuel-efficient widebodies. “To compete in the tough long-haul international market, Chinese airlines are focussed on evolving new business models, adding destinations, increasing their capacity and resources,” Tinseth said.