HONG KONG – The Asia-Pacific region will continue to be the key driver of global aviation growth over the next two decades, according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast (GMF 2026 – 2045).
With passenger traffic growth in the region projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, outpacing the global average of 3.9%, traffic volumes will more than double over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is projected to require 19,120 new passenger aircraft, representing 45% of the total global demand for 42,060 new aircraft over this period.
Of the 19,120 new passenger aircraft needed over the next two decades in the Asia-Pacific region, one third will be for replacement and the remainder for growth. Driving this growth are robust economic fundamentals. By 2045, the middle-income population in Asia-Pacific is projected to reach three billion people. Coupled with rapid urbanisation, air travel is increasingly becoming the essential lifeline for social and economic prosperity.
In the different aircraft size categories, the region will account for the lion’s share of all widebody deliveries, with demand for 3,420 new aircraft. That represents almost half of all new widebody aircraft.
Airbus is especially well placed to meet airline requirements for widebodies with the A330neo and A350 Family. Together, the two product lines have seen Airbus increase its share of the widebody backlog in the region to 50% over the past three years, with the A350 now firmly established as the preferred choice of airlines in the region for long-range intercontinental flights. In the largest category for Airbus, this has seen the A350-1000 emerge as the natural successor for the 777-300ER.
The demand in Asia-Pacific also remains strongly anchored on single-aisle capacity, with 15,700 aircraft in the 100-244 seat size category required by 2045, reflecting ongoing domestic and intra-regional network expansion, driven by fleet replacement and long-term capacity growth.
Increased connectivity is being realised through the strategic development of new airport infrastructure and the deployment of longer-range, versatile single-aisle aircraft like the A321XLR and the A220, unlocking new city pairs and bypassing traditional mega-hubs and connecting secondary cities.
The A220 is proving itself as a key network builder, making new thin routes viable, having already created more than 400 new routes globally. In Asia-Pacific, Airbus foresees strong potential for further expansion with the A220 unlocking over 800 new unserved city pairs.
“We are seeing an evolution in the Asia-Pacific networks and how they connect,” said Anand Stanley, President Airbus in Asia-Pacific. “Alongside sustained expansion in long-haul networks, airlines are decentralising beyond traditional hub-and-spoke models to connect secondary cities directly to the global economy. By leveraging latest-generation aircraft technology, carriers in the region are rewriting connectivity maps and driving the region’s long-term economic prosperity.”
By the end of August 2026, 119 airlines in Asia-Pacific operated 5,000 Airbus commercial aircraft, with a market share of 58%, with nearly 3,500 aircraft on order for future delivery. This represents 61% of the backlog for all aircraft manufacturers in the above-100-seat jet market.
