The worldwide fleet will more than double by 2020 to almost 33,000 aircraft, with airlines taking delivery of 23,500 planes over the next two decades, aviation giant Boeing predicted Monday, November 5.
Randolph Baseler, marketing vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the cost of the planes and associated aviation services would top $3,100 billion, while 5,100 planes would be retired over the same 20-year period.
The Middle East region alone will require 651 new commercial jet airlines worth $63 billion between 2001 and 2020, according to Baseler.
"The Middle East is expected to experience economic growth at higher than the world average during the next 20 years," he said at the Dubai 2001 air show. "In addition, the 4.2 percent air travel growth projection provides a strong foundation for expansion by the region's airlines."
Baseler predicted the region's fleet will number 1,020 by 2020, with just five percent of deliveries 747-size and larger. Dubai's Emirates airline signed letters of intent on Sunday to buy 25 Boeing 777 passenger jets for $6.6 billion, to be delivered between 2004 and 2010.
Seattle-based Boeing, the world's largest producer of commercial jetliners, was on course to deliver 522 aircraft this year, falling back to 350-400 in 2002, and below 350 in 2003, Baseler said. — (AFP, Dubai)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
