Aircraft Interiors International
  • News
    • Aircraft Safety
    • Aircraft Seating
    • Airline News
    • Airframer News
    • Cabin Design
    • Catering & Onboard Retail
    • Galleys & Monuments
    • Industry News
    • Inflight Amenities
    • Inflight Connectivity
    • In-flight Entertainment
    • Materials. Trim & Finish
    • MRO
    • Passenger Experience
    • Passenger Health & Safety
    • Sustainability
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Design Showcase 2025
    • November 2024
    • March 2024
    • November 2023
    • Aug/Sep 2023
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Images
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
  • Events
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube
Subscribe to Magazine Subscribe to Email Newsletter Media Pack
Aircraft Interiors International
  • News
      • Aircraft Safety
      • Aircraft Seating
      • Airline News
      • Airframer News
      • Cabin Design
      • Catering & Onboard Retail
      • Galleys & Monuments
      • Industry News
      • Inflight Amenities
      • Inflight Connectivity
      • In-flight Entertainment
      • Materials. Trim & Finish
      • MRO
      • Passenger Experience
      • Passenger Health & Safety
      • Sustainability
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Design Showcase 2025
    3. November 2024
    4. September 2024
    5. May 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Design Showcase 2024
    8. Archive Issues
    9. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    March 6, 2025

    The March 2025 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    Accessibility By Web Team
    Recent

    The March 2025 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    March 6, 2025

    The 2025 Aircraft Interiors International Showcase issue is out!

    January 13, 2025

    The November 2024 issue of Aircraft Interiors International is out!

    November 13, 2024
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Podcast
  • Images
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
  • Events
LinkedIn YouTube
Aircraft Interiors International
Airframer News

The global passenger fleet is forecast to almost double by 2042

Adam GavineBy Adam GavineJuly 6, 20234 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, has published a report that forecasts the global commercial passenger aviation fleet will almost double in number by 2042, growing 94% to reach 46,880 aircraft. The report states that this growth is underpinned by sustained growth in demand for air travel, building on the rapid recovery witnessed since the Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The fleet forecast, titled Return to Growth, includes an estimate that more than US$4 trillion will be required to finance the 44,300 new commercial aircraft expected to be delivered over the next 20 years, representing a considerable opportunity for lessors to partner with airlines to finance their growth ambitions.

The huge number of new aircraft joining international operators also represent a huge opportunity for the aircraft interiors sector, with suppliers of everything from seats to galleys, IFEC to cushions, fasteners to amenity kits, all in a strong position for continued growth.

Avolon forecasts that passenger demand will continue to rise by around 3.5% per annum from a 2019 base, but that the pace of expansion will be lower than the 5-6% of the previous 20 years due to the reduced potential for further deregulation which could drive growth, and the higher airfares caused by aircraft supply shortages and increasing sustainability levies. The biggest growth driver will be new middle-class consumers, particularly in India, South-East Asia and Latin America, says Avalon.

Increasing GDP per capita will drive the global fleet to nearly double by 2042″

One challenge facing aviation is that of decoupling growth from environmental impact. Trillions of dollars of new investment will be required to fund the required transition to new-generation aircraft with lower emissions, ramping up the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, and exploring new aircraft designs that pioneer alternative energy sources. Aircraft lessors will play a key role in accelerating fleet renewal, and a growing industry will attract the capital required to hit aviation’s net-zero target by 2050.

Key takeaways from Avolon’s World Fleet Forecast include:

  • The regions showing the biggest increase in travel between now and 2042 will be India (4.4%), China (3.7%), Asia (5.0%) and Latin America (4.9%). Mature markets such as North America (2.0%) and Europe (3.1%) will continue to grow, although at a more moderate rate.
  • 44,300 new aircraft will be delivered over the period, and 21,600 aircraft will exit the passenger fleet through decommissioning at the end of their economic life or being converted into freighters.
  • Growth of the narrowbody fleet (112%) will outpace widebody fleet growth (97%) as single-aisle aircraft are able to accommodate more passengers and can now undertake trans-continental flight routes. Regional jet (11%) and turboprop (36%) growth will be more modest.
  • The global fleet will have transitioned to largely (95%) new-technology fuel-efficient aircraft by the end of 2042.
  • Airbus is set to maintain its strong market position in the narrowbody segment, accounting for 58% of the global narrowbody fleet in 2042, compared to 53% currently.
  • Boeing will maintain its 59% share leadership of the widebody segment, with the resumption of B787 deliveries being a key driver.
  • The supply constraints currently being experienced will continue into the second half of the decade, increasing the value of booked production slots and aircraft that have already been delivered. Those airlines that have not secured sufficient capacity will rely on lessors for the supply of new and used aircraft.

“The human desire to connect with friends and family, and to do business remains undiminished, as shown by the post-pandemic recovery in air travel,” said Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon. “Emerging markets and their growing middle class underpin our forecast for continued expansion of the global fleet. Near-term production constraints will remain a feature and will reward those who have secured their orderbook pipeline. The resilience aviation has shown, and its anticipated long-term growth trend, reaffirms the investment case for aircraft as an asset class.”

Jim Morrison, chief risk officer at Avolon and co-author of the report, added: “Whilst the pace of growth in demand for travel will moderate, increasing GDP per capita will drive the global fleet to nearly double by 2042. Delivering on sustainability commitments is an imperative to secure aviation’s continued growth. Fleet renewal, scaling sustainable aviation fuel production, and the development of transformational new aircraft designs will be capital intensive. Lessors will play a critical role in the industry’s future success and net-zero transition.”

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleGlobal Aerospace Cluster Partnership set up to drive aviation innovation
Next Article The best airports in the world ranked for 2023
Adam Gavine
  • X (Twitter)

Adam loves air travel, and since taking on the Aircraft Interiors International brand he has really enjoyed the opportunity to be involved with the latest aircraft and airline products before they are even launched. Adam co-ordinates the growth of the brand platform, and sits on various panels, including the Crystal Cabin Awards

Related Posts

In-flight Entertainment

Encore signs exclusive esports IFE distribution deal with Blast

May 23, 20252 Mins Read
Airline News

Royal Air Maroc brings in scalable IFE upgrades

May 23, 20252 Mins Read
Aircraft Seating

Luxair selects Recaro R2 SFE economy seat

May 23, 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Encore signs exclusive esports IFE distribution deal with Blast

May 23, 2025

Royal Air Maroc brings in scalable IFE upgrades

May 23, 2025

Luxair selects Recaro R2 SFE economy seat

May 23, 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe to Magazine
  • Meet The Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aerospace Testing
  • Business Airport
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday


© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.