Boeing: Southeast Asia fleet to quadruple by 2042

Boeing predicts that Southeast Asia’s commercial airplane fleet will almost quadruple to more than 4,000 jets by 2042, making it one of the global leaders in air traffic and fleet growth. The region will account for almost half of Asia-Pacific deliveries outside China. The growth is tied to the expansion of low-cost carriers (LCCs), which are becoming the dominant business model and expanding networks across the vast region. Southeast Asia will be the world’s fastest-growing single-aisle airplane market through the 20-year forecast period. 

According to Boeing’s 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), LCCs in Southeast Asia will add more than 2,000 new single-aisle jets over the next 20 years, nearly two-thirds of the overall projected 3,390 single-aisle deliveries in the region. LCCs will transport 56% of passenger traffic in 2042, compared to 22% in 2012. 

The 2023 Southeast Asia CMO also includes these projections by 2042:

• 83% of deliveries to the region will support fleet growth, while 17% will replace older airplanes with more fuel-efficient models
• The widebody fleet will see a three-fold increase, with demand for nearly 800 airplanes including passenger jets such as Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, 777X, and freighter models
• Fleet growth will drive demand for USD310 billion in aviation services including maintenance, repair, training, and spare parts

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries.

Boeing has published the CMO annually since 1961. As the longest-running jet forecast, the CMO is regarded as the most comprehensive analysis of the commercial aviation industry.