Airbus Forecast: Emerging Markets To Lead Traffic Growth
Single-aisle passenger designs represent the largest element in the predicted 20-year demand for 29,226 new machines, according to European manufacturer Airbus in a new 20-year market forecast. (Photo: Airbus)
Single-aisle passenger designs represent the largest element in the predicted 20-year demand for 29,226 new machines, according to European manufacturer Airbus in a new 20-year market forecast. (Photo: Airbus)

The recent global financial recession notwithstanding, long-term airline traffic growth will average 4.7 percent per year, while cargo traffic grows at a slightly higher annual rate, 4.8 percent, according to the latest 20-year market forecast published by Airbus. However, the company projected a marked disparity between traffic growth in “advanced” and “emerging” markets. COO for customers John Leahy noted a divergence in gross domestic product trends between the groups since 2000. Up to the turn of the millennium, GDP growth in mature economies kept in step with that in the developing world before North America and Europe faltered in the first half of the past decade to create a “two-speed world.” But all economies collapsed after 2007, during which period emerging economies had seen slower growth, according to the Airbus executive.