China will need 8,560 new commercial aircraft by 2042due to economic growth well above the global average and growing demand for air travel, according to projections from Boeing.
Chinese airlines’ jetliner fleet will more than double to nearly 9,600 planes over the next 20 years. With the continued recovery of air transport, China will account for a fifth of global aircraft deliveries over the next two decades, the American aircraft manufacturer estimates. China’s domestic aviation market will also be the largest in the world by 2042, helping to fuel demand for 6,470 new single-aisle aircraft such as aircraft in the Boeing 737 MAX family (or competitor Airbus A320neo).
Along with demand for single-aisle aircraft, Chinese carriers will need 1 550 new wide-body aircraft, primarily to support a growing network of international routes. Continued growth in e-commerce and express transportation will drive demand for 190 new deliveries of cargo planes. Finally, the local domestic market will need 350 regional planes to connect small airports.
“Domestic air traffic in China has already exceeded pre-pandemic levels and international traffic is steadily recovering“, comments Darren Hulst, vice president of commercial marketing at Boeing. “As China’s economy and traffic continue to grow, Boeing’s full line of commercial aircraft will play a key role in helping meet this growth in a sustainable and cost-effective manner..”
To operate their aircraft fleets, Chinese airlines will need 433,000 new aviation personnel – including 134,000 pilots, 138,000 technicians and 161,000 cabin crew– to serve its growing market. China’s commercial fleet will generate $675 billion in demand for aviation services, including maintenance, repair, training and spare parts.
