Paris (AFP)
- Airbus on Wednesday increased its estimate of the number of new aircraft
needed over the coming two decades as airlines seek more fuel-efficient planes
even as it trimmed its forecast for the increase in demand for air travel.
In its
latest Global Market Forecast for the next 20 years, the European aircraft
maker said it expects air traffic to grow by 4.3 percent annually, a drop from
the 4.4 percent annual growth it forecast last year.
Nevertheless,
Airbus now expects even higher demand for new aircraft than it did last year
thanks to airlines increasingly retiring older planes for new ones that offer
lower operating costs as they consume less fuel.
Airbus
anticipates demand for new aircraft over the coming two decades at 39,210
planes, a rise of nearly 2,000 from its forecast last year, due a sharp
increase in replacements. Unlike last year, it did not provide a cost estimate.
"Developments
in superior fuel efficiency are further driving demand to replace existing less
fuel efficient aircraft," said Airbus in a statement.
However, it
scaled back the number of planes it expects airlines to acquire to meet growth
in demand for air travel by more than 1,500 aircraft to 25,000.
Airbus said
that nevertheless the annual growth of more than 4 percent reflects the
resilient nature of aviation from economic shocks and its increasingly key role
in the global economy.
"Economies
thrive on air transportation. People and goods want to connect," said
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus
International.
"Globally,
commercial aviation stimulates GDP growth and supports 65 million livelihoods,
demonstrating the immense benefits our business brings to all societies and
global trade," he added.
The firm
also stressed that with its latest more fuel efficient models it will help the
airline industry limit its environmental impact.
"Airbus
believes it will largely contribute to the progressive decarbonisation of the
air transport industry and the objective of carbon neutral growth from 2020
while connecting more people globally," it said.
The airline
industry aims to freeze its carbon footprint at its 2020 level thanks to more
fuel efficient aircraft and through offsets like planting trees.
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