Airbus predicts 39,000 new planes will be built by 2040
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is predicting that around 39,000 new planes will be built by 2040 as passenger traffic and the need for replacing old models increase.
Out of the overall 39,000 expected, 15,250 aircraft will be destined to replace less fuel-efficient models. This will result in the majority of commercial planes in operation becoming fuel-efficient by 2040.
“Replacement being today’s most significant driver for decarbonisation,” Airbus’s chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said. ” The world is expecting more sustainable flying and this will be made possible in the short-term by the introduction of most modern airplanes.
“Powering these new, efficient aircraft with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) is the next big lever.
“We pride ourselves that all our aircraft – the A220, A320neo Family, the A330neo and the A350 – are already certified to fly with a blend of 50% SAF, set to rise to 100% by 2030 – before making ZEROe our next reality from 2035 onwards.”
According to the company’s forecasts, the demand will be divided into 29,700 small aircraft such as the A220 or A320, and 4,000 large ones like the A350. In the medium aircraft category, 5,300 of A321XLR and A330neo will be produced.