Large planes falling out of fashion
Boeing revises down forecast for its 400+ seaters, while Airbus will build just 12 of its giant A380s a year starting from 2018, down from 27 in 2015
Large jetliners appear to be going out of fashion, according to the world’s two largest aircraft makers.
At the annual Farnborough International Airshow this week, the two manufacturing giants both logged huge orders from Asian airlines for smaller planes.
They included a knockout US$12.6 billion order for 100 Airbus single-aisle A321neos from budget carrier AirAsia, and a US$7.7 billion order for 72 A320neos from Indian low-cost carrier, GoAir.
Boeing, which also announced a series of accords with Chinese customers including Xiamen Airlines and Ruili Airlines at the show, raising its annual 20-year global aircraft demand outlook by 4.1 per cent this week.
It predicts the world will need 39,620 new airplanes worth US$5.9 trillion in the next two decades, but it continues to revise down forecast demand for large jets with more than 400 seats such as its B747-8. Compared with its forecast last year, it also lowered the number for medium large jets with 300-400 seats from 3,520 to 3,470.
“The single-aisle market will be especially strong, with low-cost carriers and emerging markets driving growth,” Boeing said, which forecast 28,140 new airplanes worth US$3 trillion will be needed in this segment, an increase of more than 5 per cent over last year.
The single-aisle market will be especially strong, with low-cost carriers and emerging markets driving growth
