Airbus forecasts $3 trillion commercial aviation aftermarket services, including MRO and training, over 20 years

TOULOUSE, France, 21 July 2016. Airbus officials in Toulouse, France, predicts spending on commercial aviation aftermarket services over the next 20 years to reach $3 trillion (U.S. dollars) – with maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activity exceeding $1.8 trillion by 2035.

Exponential growth in the commercial aviation aftermarket industry is poised to continue, according to the first Airbus Global Services Forecast (GSF). Highlights from this first forecast include:

MRO spend will grow from $53 billion to over $132 billion per year, representing an average year-on-year growth of 4.6%.

Aftermarket services activity is inherently linked to the growth of the passenger fleet in general – which will more than double from 19,500 commercial aircraft over 100 seats at the end of 2015 to almost 40,000 by the year 2035.

The need for pilots and technicians will commensurably increase, growing from an estimated 200,000 active pilots who fly passenger aircraft today to 450,000 pilots by 2035.

The total number of active pilots needed by the year 2035 plus the need to replace flight-crew who retire during the next 20 years will result in the need to train as many as 560,000 new pilots over this period.

In terms of technical staff needed, the Airbus GSF predicts a requirement to train approximately 540,000 new technicians who will fulfil various duties across airframe, engines, and components domains.

With its accelerating demand for aviation and its burgeoning airline fleets, the Asia-Pacific region will represent the largest portion of the market for both MRO activity and the need for new qualified pilots and technicians, while Europe and North America combined will account for approximately one third of the total MRO market spend.

Airbus, a division of Airbus Group, is a global commercial aircraft manufacturer with modern, comprehensive, and efficient airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus has sold over 16,500 aircraft to around 400 customers and, in addition, provides customer support and training through an expanding international network. Airbus employs 55,000 people and in 2015 generated revenues of 45.9 billion Euros.

Services By Airbus is Airbus’ business unit addressing Airbus customers’ aftermarket needs, clustered around four principle domains: Maintenance, Upgrades, Training, and Flight Operations. For supporting customers’ maintenance and operational needs, Airbus’ dedicated global material services subsidiary Satair Group ensures reactivity for airlines and MROs worldwide for spare parts. In addition, Flight Hour and Total Support Package (FHS & TSP) services provide flexible and tailor-made solutions for availability and maintenance ‘by the hour’.

With Airbus’ Upgrades Services, customers’ aircraft stay up-to-date with the latest aerodynamic enhancements (such as wingtip Sharklets), state-of-the-art avionics and data communications, tailored aircraft mission configurations and take-off weights, passenger connectivity solutions, and comfortable and well-equipped cabins.

The latest Airbus Training techniques and tools – supported by 11 strategically located training centers, with more being added – will ensure there are the qualified pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance staff available to support the arrival of thousands of new aircraft into the airlines’ fleets.

Regarding Flight Operations, Airbus’ new NAVBLUE subsidiary will provide airlines with individually customized aeronautical information and air traffic management (ATM) solutions, not just for their fleets of Airbus aircraft, but also for aircraft made by other manufacturers.

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