Asia-Pacific airlines are expected to need 19,120 new passenger aircraft over the next two decades as increasing travel demand, fleet replacement, and new routes continue to reshape aviation across the region, according to Airbus.

The aircraft manufacturer’s Global Market Forecast 2026-2045 estimates Asia-Pacific will account for about 45% of global demand for 42,060 new aircraft during the period.

Passenger traffic in the region is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.1%, faster than the global average of 3.9%. Airbus expects Asia-Pacific air traffic volumes to more than double by 2045.

“We are seeing an evolution in the Asia-Pacific networks and how they connect,” said Anand Stanley, president Airbus in Asia-Pacific. “Alongside sustained expansion in long-haul networks, airlines are decentralizing beyond traditional hub-and-spoke models to connect secondary cities directly to the global economy. By leveraging latest generation aircraft technology, carriers in the region are rewriting connectivity maps and driving the region’s long-term economic prosperity.”

About one-third of the aircraft required in the region will replace older planes, while the rest will support airline growth.

Airbus said demand is being supported by economic growth, urbanization, and a growing middle-income population, which it expects to reach three billion people in Asia-Pacific by 2045.

Most of the demand will be for single-aisle aircraft, which are commonly used for domestic and regional flights. Airbus expects airlines in the region to require 15,700 aircraft in the 100-244-seat category by 2045.

Airlines are also expected to require 3,420 new widebody aircraft used mainly for longer international routes. This would account for almost half of global widebody deliveries during the forecast period.

Airbus said newer aircraft with longer range are also allowing airlines to open direct routes between smaller cities instead of relying only on major airport hubs.

The company cited aircraft such as the A321XLR and A220, which can serve longer or lower-demand routes. Airbus said the A220 has already helped create more than 400 new routes worldwide and could open more than 800 currently unserved city pairs in Asia-Pacific.

Airbus said 119 airlines in Asia-Pacific operated about 5,000 Airbus commercial aircraft as of the end of August 2026, giving the company a 58% market share.

Those airlines also had nearly 3,500 Airbus aircraft on order for future delivery.

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