Airbus sees steady growth for Pacific region

Airbus super salesman John Leahy was in town last week to deliver the manufacturer's latest forecast for the Pacific region.

(He was also here to celebrate a big Qantas order for the A320 neo, that we reported on last week.)

Highlights of the Airbus market forecats included:

* by 2030 the global airline fleet will number 31,420 aircraft, up 109% on 2010.

* that will include 26,920 new passenger aircraft and 930 new freighters.

* of those new aircraft, there will be 19,170 single-aisle, 6910 twin-aisle and 1780 very large aircraft.

* The Pacific region accounts for around four per cent of global air traffic; and is showing positive growth of 3.9 per cent.

* New aircraft deliveries for the Pacific up to 2030 will include 468 single-aisle, 211 twin-aisle and 57 VLAs.

* All global regions are showing positive growth, but emerging economies are leading the way.

* Drivers of growth include increasing urbanisation, expanding global middle class (especially in Asia), continued growth of LCCs and market liberalisation.

* Asia Pacific will lead in air traffic by 2030 with 33 per cent of world RPKs.

* Traffic in and between more mature markets wil nearly double between 2010 and 2030.

* Australian tourism from emerging markets will include annual growth of 8.6 per cent from India, 8.5 per cent from the Middle East and 7.2 per cent from China.

* Low cost carriers will have 36 per cent of the Pacific market by 2030, up from 24 per cent in 2010.

* Pacific traffic will grow at 4.8 per cent per annum over the 20-year period, the same rate as the global average.

* The fastest regional growth rate will be in the Middle East and Latin America, at 8.3 per cent.