Airbus foresaw a demand for about 24,300 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at US$ 2.8 trillion by 2026, according to its latest global market forecast. Passenger traffic is expected to grow at an average rate of 4.9 percent per year in the forecast period, leading to a near threefold increase.

 

The Asia-Pacific region will witness the greatest demand for passenger aircraft, accounting for 31 percent of the total world demand, followed by North America and Europe. Emerging markets are also driving traffic demand, with China and India remaining the largest.

 

(Shanghai Daily February 13, 2008)