Boeing forecasts demand for more than 9,200 new aircraft in China in next 20 years

(ECNS) -- China will need 9,240 new commercial aircraft over the next 20 years as airlines expand their networks and replace older planes, with the country's fleet projected to grow from nearly 4,500 aircraft today to more than 9,800 by 2045, Boeing said on Tuesday.

Passenger air traffic in China is forecast to grow by an average of 5% annually, driven by a growing middle-income population, more destinations offering visa-free travel and continued investment in aviation infrastructure, according to Boeing's 2026 China Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), its long-term forecast of demand for commercial aircraft and related services.

"Our long-term forecast continues to show strong demand for new airplanes as China's passenger air traffic outpaces growth globally, supported by favorable economic and policy fundamentals that will make air travel more accessible," said Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president of commercial marketing, at a press conference in Beijing.

Boeing has partnered with China for nearly 55 years, and its aircraft have played an important role in the development of the country's civil aviation industry by connecting people and helping move goods across continents, Hulst said.

Chinese airlines are expected to take delivery of more than 7,200 single-aisle aircraft over the next two decades, accounting for 78% of total projected deliveries.

By 2045, China's domestic air travel market is expected to become the world's largest as more people choose to fly for leisure or business throughout the country.

With more efficient and capable single-aisle airplanes entering the fleet, airlines will further expand their regional networks to improve connections across the Asia-Pacific region and Central Asia, according to the report.

After rapid growth over the past 25 years, China now has the world's second-largest commercial aircraft fleet, with nearly 4,500 planes. As the fleet matures, future demand for aircraft is expected to be more evenly split between fleet expansion and replacement, with 42% of the 9,240 aircraft projected for delivery over the next two decades set to replace older models, according to the forecast.

(By Zhang Dongfang)