Boeing has projected that airlines in India and South Asia will require nearly 3,300 new airplanes by 2044, according to its Commercial Market Outlook.
Boeing announced that passenger air traffic in India and South Asia is expected to increase by an average of 7% annually over the next 20 years. The company’s Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) projects that airlines in the region will need approximately 3,290 new airplanes by 2044 to accommodate this growth.
According to Boeing, single-aisle jets are expected to account for nearly 90% of these deliveries, with 2,875 single-aisle aircraft projected. The remainder includes 395 widebody airplanes, fewer than 10 regional jets, and 20 freighters.
Boeing stated that the combined fleet in India and South Asia will expand from 795 to 2,925 airplanes over two decades, representing a nearly fourfold increase. The company attributed this growth to factors such as a growing middle class, economic expansion, and investments in airport infrastructure and connectivity. Domestic travel within India is expected to be a significant driver, supported by a shift from rail to air transport.
The outlook also indicates that airlines in the region are projected to expand and diversify long-haul networks as India develops as a hub for international passenger and cargo traffic. Boeing forecasts that the widebody fleet in South Asia will more than triple by 2044, enabling increased travel to markets including the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
In the cargo sector, Boeing projects that the region’s fleet of new and converted freighters will grow to five times its current size over the next two decades, driven by growth in high-tech manufacturing and the expanding role of e-commerce in India.
To support the anticipated fleet expansion, Boeing estimates that more than $195 billion will be required for aviation services in the South Asia region over the next 20 years. This includes maintenance, repair, modifications, digital services, and training.
Boeing also projects that the aviation industry in India and South Asia will need approximately 141,000 new professionals over the next two decades. This figure includes about 45,000 pilots, 45,000 technicians, and 51,000 cabin crew.
The Commercial Market Outlook is published annually by Boeing and provides projections for the aviation industry.
