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AIRBUS cut its jet delivery target over the next 20 years as soaring fuel prices prompted the airline to accelerate deliveries of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Despite the war in Ukraine and soaring inflation, Airbus raised its median forecast for annual GDP growth to 2.6% from 2.5% in its latest 20-year outlook published recently.
They believe that the surge in energy costs will also encourage airlines to speed up deliveries of aircraft with fuel-efficient models. Airbus forecasts total deliveries of 39,490 jets over the next 20 years, up from 39,020 previously forecast.
“This increase is partly because 2021 has come out of a rolling 20-year forecast period. It was a very weak year stressed by the pandemic,” Airbus said.
On the other hand, in the midst of the increase in the forecast, passenger traffic actually grew at a slower rate of 3.6% per year than the forecast of 3.9% in November 2021.
Citing data on regional differences in the cost of sustainable fuels, this is the result of higher energy and carbon prices driving tariff increases and which Airbus now includes in its forecasts. [sources/photo special]
