AircraftOwner Online

Despite current problems, European commercial aircraft builder Airbus predicted a rising global market for the airline industry over the next 20 years. Reported in the Wall Street Journal online, the French-based aeronautic manufacturer predicted demand for 25,000 new aircraft worth $3.1 trillion over the next two decades, an annual passenger traffic growth rate of 4.9%. The world's biggestaircraft manufacturer, Airbus expects airline manufacturing growth to come from emerging economies,airline expansion,discount carriers and replacement of aging airplanes.

As WSJ points out, the new prediction represents a 2.9% increase over the 24,300 planes/$2.8 trillion market prediction Airbus made just 19 months ago in February 2008. That's good news for the aviation industry. If airline manufacturers are starting to see light at the end of the recession's bleak, black tunnel, an industry turnaround can’t be too far off in the future. Don't look for blue skies yet though. Airbus expects the current passenger traffic retraction (pegged at 2% in 2009) to continue through the end of this year before a gradual expansion (Airbus predicts 4.6%) begins in 2010. Of course, for the first couple of years we'll just be climbing back up to previous norms. But in the long term, airline travel and the myriad businesses and people it supports is expected to recover and prosper.

Airbus expects even greater and faster growth in airline cargo traffic as businesses ramp back up to fill restocking orders and meet increasing customer demand, particularly in developing countries. Airbus predicts 5.2% average annual growth in cargo traffic over the next 20 years requiring 3,440 additional air freighters. While most of these freighters are expected to be passenger jet conversions, a need for 850 new aircraft is predicted.

Airbus' predictions mean a lot of airplanes are going to need to be pushed around hangers and airports in the future. Lindy's aircraft tugs and aircraft tractorswill ensure that you're ready to meet the challenges of the future.