Airbus has forecast that demand for new aircraft will almost triple by 2042.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the 7th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition taking place in Abuja, Nigeria this week Airbus’s Marketing Director Joep Ellers said that “the future is bright for Africa” as he revealed the aviation sector growth on the continent will drive average yearly services demand up by 4.1% from US$2 billion to US$7 billion. Growing Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) services at both regional and local level are also central to the sector’s growth, safety and longevity.
Airbus anticipates demand for 1,180 aircraft of over 100 seats for African airlines over the next 20 years. According to Airbus, 880 of these will be single-aisle types with 300 widebodies. Airbus expects to be awarded at least 50% of these orders when they materialise.
Airbus currently has 37% market share in Africa with 265 aircraft in operation with 36 of the continent’s airlines. It has 42% of the order backlog in Africa, totalling 41 aircraft.
With this year marking the first time Aviation Africa has been hosted in West Africa, Nigeria is a fitting destination to host the summit. It is Africa’s most populous country and its aviation industry has the potential to fuel economic progress within the country, enhancing connectivity throughout the country’s diverse regions. The expansion of MRO capabilities in the country could also serve to bring in additional revenues, reduce aircraft maintenance costs and provide even further opportunities for job creation and skills development both in Nigeria and the continent at large.
