Boeing Forecasts Global Air Fleet to Exceed 50,000 as Travel Demand Doubles by 2045
Boeing has recently published its influential 2026 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), offering a boldly optimistic forecast for the future of global aviation. The report predicts that the worldwide commercial airplane fleet will grow nearly 80% to more than 50,000 aircraft by 2045, as passenger traffic doubles over the next two decades.
The report was unveiled ahead of the prestigious Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. It projects that airlines and cargo operators will require nearly 44,000 new aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years to meet sustained demand. Interestingly, half of these deliveries are expected to replace older, less efficient jets with new fuel-efficient models to support sustainability targets.
Boeing forecasts passenger traffic to grow at 4% annually between 2026 and 2045. Emerging and transitioning markets — including China, the Middle East, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa — are projected to account for 55% of all new deliveries, while mature markets in North America, Eurasia, Oceania and Northeast Asia will account for the remaining 45%.
By 2045, the global single-aisle fleet is expected to nearly double to more than 36,000 jets, while more than 8,000 widebody aircraft will be in service supporting long-haul routes. In addition, Boeing also forecasts a $4.9 trillion support and services market and demand for more than 2.4 million new aviation professionals over the period.
“Airlines are adapting quickly to manage near-term industry constraints while demand for air travel remains resilient,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “That demand is driving the need to grow and modernize the global fleet.”
Source: TravelPulse – July 18, 2026