Airbus head sees Asian markets as fueling future growth

The Asia-Pacific region will continue as an important market over the long term, with forecasted airline traffic growth driving the requirements for larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the A350 XWB Family.
Speaking to reporters at this week's Singapore Airshow, Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said the upswing in Asian passenger volume - plus the concentration of operations at key hub cities - will create a demand for jetliners in the A350 and A380 size categories.
"We have to make the most of new technology to support such essential growth through the use of larger, more efficient aircraft," Enders said. "That's why in the next 20 years, we expect 39 percent of twin-aisles such as the A350 XWB Family to be concentrated here in Asia-Pacific, along with 56 percent of large aircraft like the A380."
He noted that more than 50 percent of passengers flying within Asia today are travelling between just 11 hub cities, which are also at the centre of 72 per cent of the demand between Europe and Asia. Routes such as Beijing-Shanghai already are operating at 85 percent load factors, and are expecting further strong growth.
These developments underscore the importance of A380s and A350s as the region's airlines evolve, Enders added, a fact reflected by orders already booked for these two new aircraft by Asia-Pacific carriers.
22/02/08 Reliable Plant Magazine, US

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Feb 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Feb 2008, Singapore Airshow 2008