Airbus Trims 20-Year Forecast

European aerospace company Airbus on Sept. 17 forecast global air cargo traffic will grow by 5.2 percent annually over the next twenty years.

This will require 3,440 additional freighters of which 850 will be new planes, the remainder conversions from passenger jets, the world’s biggest commercial aircraft manufacturer said in its 2009 long term market outlook.

The updated forecast steps back somewhat from the 2008 forecast, in which Airbus said cargo traffic would grow by 5.8 percent annually, requiring 900 new freighters.

Boeing last week forecast Asian carriers would add about 750 new and converted freighters to the region’s cargo fleet, about 27 percent of the world requirement and second only to the more mature, but slower growing North America market. (Boeing Forecasts $1 Trillion Growth in Asian Aviation http://www.joc.com/node/413294).

Airbus forecast the world’s airlines will buy 25,000 planes worth $3.1 trillion over the next 20 years, driven by Asian growth and higher demand for single-aisle aircraft.

Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.