Airbus Sees Baltic Market For 130 Aircraft (May 14)
According to Airbus' latest Global Market Forecast, the airlines of Finland and the Baltic states will require a total of 128 new aircraft worth around US$ 8 billion over the next 20 years. The entire airline fleet in Finland and the Baltic states will more than double from around 55 today to almost 133 aircraft in 2019. During the same period, 50 of the aircraft currently in service will have to be replaced as they reach the end of their economic lives, while 83 will be needed for growth.
Passenger traffic carried by the airlines of Northern Europe is expected to triple in the next 20 years with an average annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent. This is significantly higher than the average annual 4.9 per cent Airbus predicts for the growth of the traffic world-wide. In particular, traffic on routes between Northern Europe and dynamic Asian regions will more than triple, with a predicted growth rate of 6.5 per cent on average each year.
The airlines will cope with this increase in passenger traffic in a number of ways. A substantial part will be absorbed by improvements in aircraft utilisation by more than 260 additional hours per year, as well as an increase in the passenger load factor of 4.7 per cent. In addition, the number of seats operated by airlines in Northern Europe is expected to reach 103,000 by 2019, compared with the 43,000 seats available today.
Presenting the Global Market Forecast in Helsinki today, Airbus Vice President, Market Forecasts, Adam Brown said: "All of us at Airbus are quietly confident that we will have the right aircraft for Finland and the Baltic states. The environmental friendliness of our aircraft is key to our success in the Nordic countries and we are very optimistic that during the next twenty years Airbus aircraft will become an increasingly familiar sight in the skies of Finland and the Baltic states."
The strongest demand will be for 89 single-aisle aircraft in the size categories from 100 to 175 seats. This is a segment where Airbus offers the most profitable and popular single-aisle aircraft, the A320 Family, comprising the A318, A319, A320 and A321. These aircraft are already successfully operated in the Nordic countries by Finnair and Premiair, while the first A321 to fly with SAS will be delivered this summer.
Considerable demand will also develop for 26 intermediate-capacity twin aisle aircraft in the category between 210 and 250 seats. Airbus offers the market-leading A330-200 in this category - an extremely efficient aircraft capable of transporting 250 passengers non-stop from Helsinki to all major cities in North and Central America, Africa and Asia. It is already in service in Northern Europe with carriers such as Novair and Premiair.
The A330-200 like all members of Airbus' fly-by-wire aircraft family offers airlines the highest possible degree of commonality in airframes, on-board systems, cockpits and handling characteristics. This full flight commonality allows airlines to substantially reduce training and maintenance costs, since the same pilots and maintenance crews can fly or service any Airbus aircraft type, large or small, with only minor additional training.
For high capacity routes, Airbus predicts that the airlines in the Nordic and Baltic states will require 13 aircraft in the size of 300, 350 and 400 seats. In this category Airbus' twin engine A330-300 and four engine A340 aircraft, including the new ultra-long range A340-500 and high capacity 600 versions, are continuing to outsell their direct competitors. The new 380-seat A340-600, which flies further, faster, quieter and smoother than competing aircraft, made its successful maiden flight only two weeks ago and will enter service in mid-2002. The start of an Airbus on long range operations in Northern Europe begins this summer with the first delivery of an Airbus A340 to SAS.
With over 4,230 orders booked to date from 177 customers world-wide, Airbus is one of only two manufacturers in the market for commercial aircraft seating more than 100 passengers. Offering the most modern and comprehensive airliner family in the world, Airbus consistently captures about half of this market - a position it is well-equipped to maintaining in the future. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is jointly owned by BAE Systems and EADS.
-ends-
Airlines In Finland And Baltic States Will Need Almost 130 New Aircraft By 2019
