Airbus forecasts North America’s aircraft services market to surge 45% by 2042

North America’s commercial aircraft services market is projected to experience substantial growth, reaching US$45 billion by 2042, a 45% increase from the current US$31 billion, as per Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast (GSF).

Following the pandemic, North America emerged as one of the earliest and strongest regions to recover. The demand for domestic and international travel surged, driving a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1% in passenger traffic, according to Airbus’ Global Market Forecast.

This growth is fuelled by increasing annual air traffic, fleet expansion and the need for digitally enabled and connected aircraft. Solutions spanning aircraft delivery to end-of-life, including fleet maintenance, modernisation and training, will witness heightened demand.

Airbus predicts the maintenance market in North America to grow from US$25.9 billion to US$37.8 billion over the next two decades, with passenger-to-freighter conversion and used serviceable material (USM) contributing an estimated US$17 billion towards sustainable aircraft retirement.

Enhancements and modernisation are poised to experience the highest average annual growth (4.1%) between 2023 and 2042, reaching US$4.1 billion. This surge is driven by cabin and system upgrades, along with the increasing demand for aircraft connectivity, set to reach 90% fleet coverage by 2042.

The training and operations market is expected to rise from US$2.5 billion in 2023 to US$3 billion in 2042 (0.8%), with a brief plateau following the post-pandemic recovery period. Airbus foresees a demand for 366,000 skilled professionals in North America over the next 20 years, including 104,000 pilots, 120,000 technicians, and 142,000 cabin crew members.

Dominik Wacht, Vice President Customer Services at Airbus North America, stated, “North America offers significant opportunities for aftermarket services, with a focus on efficiency, simplification and sustainability. Airbus remains committed to supporting airlines and the aviation industry in leveraging these opportunities.”

As a pioneer in sustainable aerospace solutions, Airbus continues to innovate, providing efficient and technologically advanced products and services in commercial aircraft and beyond. (£1.00 = US$1.27 at time of publication).