Airbus: more aircraft MRO will double services market to $255 billion

Growth of the global fleet of new aircraft as well as continued demand for maintenance of in-service aircraft will almost double the commercial aircraft services market to $210 billion over the next two decades. If training of pilots and maintenance staff and demand for new digital cabin products is included, the market value is even $255 billion, Airbus said on Wednesday in its 2023-2042 Global Services Forecast.

The $255 billion for maintenance, training, and what Airbus calls ‘enhance’ in 2042 compares to $130 billion for 2023. In last year’s GFS forecast, the airframer guided $230 billion for 2041 versus $95 billion in 2022. So year on year, there has been a 46 percent growth in market value. In an interim step, the market will reach $180 billion in 2030.

The services forecast follows that of the Global Market Forecast

for commercial aircraft that Airbus presented ahead of the Paris Airshow in June. It said then that the global fleet will grow from 22.880 aircraft at the beginning of 2020 (so before the pandemic) to 40.850 in 2042. This includes 5.710 aircraft that are in service now and will be in 19 years. Another 17.710 aircraft will replace older aircraft. The remaining 23.680 are for growth, or 52 percent of the fleet in 2042.