Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 24

The global commercial fleet is expected to reach 50,660 airplanes by 2038.
O
f the new airplane deliveries, 44 percent are project-
ed to go toward replacing aging aircraft while the rest will
accommodate traffic growth. Together, the new jets support
an industry where passenger traffic will grow an average 4.6
percent and cargo traffic will grow an average 4.2 percent.
Factoring in the new airplanes and the jets that would remain
in service, the global commercial fleet is expected to reach
50,660 airplanes by 2038. This is the first time the projected
fleet has crested the 50,000 mark.
The biggest airplane segment remains single-aisles, such as
the 737 MAX, as operators are projected to demand 32,420
new airplanes. This $3.8 trillion market is driven in large part
by the continued strength of low-cost carriers, healthy re-
placement demand and continuing growth in Asia Pacific. In
the wide-body segment, Boeing forecasts demand for 8,340
new passenger airplanes valued at more than $2.6 trillion
over the next twenty years. Wide-body demand is spearhead-
ed in part by a significant wave of older airplanes that will
need to be replaced beginning in a few years.
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NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
Photo Credit: The Boeing Company
Bolstering the demand for larger aircraft, operators are ex-
pected to need 1,040 new large production freighters over the
forecast period.
These market projections — which have proven to be
accurate over the long-term — give great demand signals
for commercial aviation around the world and the thriving
aerospace sector in the Pacific Northwest.
This year has challenged the aviation industry and Boeing in
significant ways. There have been disruptions and setbacks.
But as we look ahead, there are still clear skies ahead.
Boeing is continuing to produce its family of airplanes across
Puget Sound — including the 737 MAX, KC-46A, 787
Dreamliner and others — and our teams are sharpening our
focus on safety, quality and integrity, and working with our
partners to build the future together.
Learn more at: w w w . w a t c h u s f l y . c o m