Archives: Market Intelligences

Airbus: China Aviation Services Market is Expected to be the Largest by 2043

Beijing, China – China will overtake North America and Europe to become the largest market for aviation services by 2043, with its market value almost tripling from US$23bn in 2024 to US$61bn in 2043 according to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast (GSF).

Despite multiple challenges, China’s civil aviation market has been resilient in 2024. A total of 700 million travelers are expected to have flown during the year, representing the highest volume to date. At the same time, the further development of China’s international hub airports have made it easier for connecting with domestic traffic. The services market value in 2024 has grown to US$23bn from US$18.6bn in 2023, or by 24% year on year.

China continues to show strong fleet growth potential in the next 20 years. By 2043, China will have 11,160 aircraft in service based on Airbus Global Market Forecast, in which 9,520 are new deliveries (including passenger aircraft and freighter), accounting 20% of the global demand. Among the new aircraft, more than 26% are intended to replace the current fleet. Thanks to the strong growth of new deliveries and traffic demand, China’s overall services demand is expected to grow with 5.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), making the country the biggest service market in the world. The three main drivers for this growth are the services areas of maintenance, training and operation and solutions for fleet enhancement.

In China, maintenance services represent almost 83% of the total services market. The ‘Maintain’ sector will grow from US$19bn in 2024 to US$51bn in 2043 (+5.3% CAGR) as the fleet expansion and aging fleets drive the growth of maintenance spending, dismantling and recycling demand (CAGR +14.4%) and Used Serviceable Material (USM) business.

The ‘Enhance’ services, representing 10% of the overall services market and mainly concerning connectivity solutions enabled by digitalisation, is expected to be the sector with fastest growth at a CAGR of 5.6% from US$2 billion in 2024 to US$6 billion in 2043.

At the same time, new skills are required to secure the growing use of digital and new technologies. For the ‘Train and Operate’ market, there’s a demand of additional 478,000 skilled workers including technicians, pilots and cabin crew with the growth from US$2bn to US$4bn in 2043, all in need of professional training and flight operations solutions.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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Lufthansa Group Places Order for 5 Additional A350 Aircraft – Delivery Between 2028 and 2030

  •  Five more Airbus A350-1000s ordered
  • A total of 75 A350-900s and A350-1000s aircraft ordered for Lufthansa Group airlines, with 28 already in scheduled service; 47 more to be delivered by 2031
  • Important step towards fleet modernization, product enhancement and CO₂ reduction

The Lufthansa Group is purchasing further Airbus long-haul aircraft, increasing its firm orders for A350-1000 aircraft from ten to 15. The state-of-the-art aircraft of this order will be delivered between 2028 and 2030. The total value of the order is around two billion US dollars at list price. With a total of 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s, the Lufthansa Group is one of the largest A350 customers worldwide.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG:

“Today’s order underscores our great confidence in our long-standing, close and successful partnership with Airbus. With the state-of-the-art A350 long-haul jets, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization the Group has done so far. We are investing more than ever before to make air transport more sustainable, to achieve our CO₂ reduction targets and at the same time offer our customers the highest level of comfort with a first-class travel experience.

 Including today’s order, the Lufthansa Group has ordered 770 aircraft from Airbus throughout its history and is proud to be the Airbus’ largest customer worldwide. With the upcoming integration of ITA Airways in January, the Airbus fleet of Lufthansa Group Airlines will grow by another 100 short- and long-haul aircraft.”   

New aircraft biggest lever for CO₂ reduction 

With a current fleet of around 740 commercial aircraft, the Lufthansa Group is pursuing a long-term fleet strategy focused on premium quality, cost efficiency and emissions reduction. Including the latest aircraft order, the Lufthansa Group currently has a total of around 250 new, fuel-saving aircraft on its order list, including 100 long-haul aircraft of the latest design. In the medium term, the highly efficient twin-engine long-haul jets are slated to replace four-engine aircraft types that are gradually being phased out. These include the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-600 and Airbus A340-300 aircraft types.

Compared to their predecessors, the new additions to the Lufthansa Group fleet consume up to 35 percent less fuel consumption and emit correspondingly less CO₂. The Lufthansa Group aims to halve its net CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 through reduction and compensation measures, and to achieve a neutral CO₂ balance by 2050.

The Lufthansa Group has already ordered ten A350-1000s back in March 2023, with deliveries due to start in April 2026. This aircraft type is 73.8 metres long and offers around 15 per cent more capacity than the A350-900.

Source: Lufthansa Group
Photo Credit: Lufthansa Group

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Spain Places 2025 Order for 25 Additional Eurofighter Aircraft

Spain – The Spanish government has signed a contract with Munich-based, Germany, NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) for the acquisition of 25 Eurofighter aircraft. Known as the Halcon II programme, the order will cover the delivery of 21 latest-generation single-seat and four twin-seat Eurofighter aircraft to replace part of the F-18 fleet operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force.

The agreement, which follows a previous contract signed in 2022 for a batch of 20 fighter jets, will see the Spanish Eurofighter fleet grow to 115 aircraft. With the first delivery due in 2030, these new aircraft will: boost Spain’s air-power capabilities and operations; reinforce its prominent position at the heart of NATO, and secure the programme’s industrial footprint.

“The Eurofighter is the most advanced and the most successful fighter jet from European production and is the backbone of European air superiority. It is also a symbol of industrial cooperation between nations and companies – an example of how Europe can work in our current defence context. We are grateful for the trust of the Spanish government in our Eurofighter and in Airbus Defence and Space. Not only is this order an important demand and defence signal, it secures the supply chain in Spain and across Europe,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

All Spanish Eurofighters are assembled, tested and delivered at the Airbus Getafe site (Madrid-Spain) and its industrial footprint translates into more than 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in Spain alone. The main national defence and technological companies are involved in the manufacturing process.

The acquisition was approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers in September 2023 and includes the aircraft, engines, and the necessary support services.

The Halcon saga

Designed to replace the country’s F-18 fleet, the Halcon programme means a significant upgrade of Spain’s airpower capabilities: a total of 45 (20+25) Eurofighter jets ordered since 2022, equipped with advanced avionics, electronically-scanning radar (E-Scan), enhanced weapon systems capable of operating Brimstone III and Full Meteor, new sensors and improved connectivity. They will join the current Spanish Air Force’s 70 aircraft fleet from 2026 onwards.

In service with Spain since 2003, the country’s air force operates the Eurofighter from the air bases at Morón (11th Wing), near Seville, and Los Llanos (14th Wing), Albacete. Gando (46th Wing), on the Canary Islands, will soon become the next operating base.

In total, the Eurofighter programme secures more than 100,000 jobs in Europe, which will be boosted through latest-generation aircraft, as well as in the future, through technological advances within the Eurofighter development.

To date, more than 700 Eurofighters have been ordered by eight nations.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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Air Canada Places Order for 5 Additional A220s

Mirabel, Canada – Air Canada, the national carrier of Canada, has signed a firm order with Airbus for five more latest generation single-aisle A220-300s on the fifth anniversary since taking delivery of its first A220 in December 2019. This follows an initial order in 2016 for 45 A220-300s and a reorder in 2022 for 15 more. Including this latest reorder, Air Canada’s total firm orders for the A220-300 stands at 65 aircraft.

John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Air Canada said: “The A220 has delivered on its promises for Air Canada in its five years in service. It has allowed us to open new routes and better serve existing routes with an aircraft that has the right economics to support our profitable growth strategy. It is also very popular with customers. We are pleased to add an additional five of these aircraft, built in Mirabel, Quebec, right up the road from our Montreal headquarters and to further support Canada’s aerospace sector.”

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said: “This is Air Canada’s third order for the A220 in a few years. We are committed to working closely with the flag carrier as we support its fleet renewal programme. The A220 is the most efficient aircraft in its size category, offering superior comfort with a spacious cabin and the range to fly numerous destinations on the carrier’s network.”

Air Canada was the A220-300 launch operator in North America in January 2020 and has since operated its A220 fleet to more than 70 destinations. The A220 is assembled in Mirabel, Quebec, being an essential part of the renowned Canadian aerospace sector.

Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 100 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km).

The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF engines and offers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.

As of the end of November 2024, Air Canada’s fleet is made of 134 Airbus aircraft, including the A320 Family aircraft, the A330 Family aircraft and the A220-300 aircraft. Air Canada has an order for 26 A321XLRs.

As at the end of November 2024, Airbus had received close to 900 orders from 32 customers for the A220, of which almost 380 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 23 operators worldwide. The fleet is currently flying on more than 1,500 routes and more than 460 destinations across the globe, confirming its leading position in the small single-aisle market.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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Provider of Digital Aviation Training – Padpilot Acquired by Rose Street Partners

A second company within four weeks has received investment from Rose Street Partners in a deal advised upon by KBS Corporate.

Padpilot, a rapidly growing provider of digital training content for the aviation industry, follows Kenwood Damp Proofing in joining Rose Street’s portfolio with the help of Tom Eatough, KBS Corporate Director.

Rose Street has invested into three businesses since the investment company was founded in 2023.

Having grown into one of the European leaders within its sector, Padpilot, which was founded in 2010 and is based in Gloucester, is expanding globally, driven by the unrivalled quality of its content.

“We look forward to supporting the business in its long-term growth aspirations, whilst preserving the culture of quality and innovation built over many years by founders Graham and Jill Cownie,” said Rose Street Partners in its announcement of the investment.

Rose Street describes itself as a permanent home for enduring businesses, supporting them to thrive over the long term with a forever time horizon.

Dan Skyte, Rose Street founder and CEO, added: “Delighted to announce our third (and final!) investment of 2024 with Padpilot.

“Padpilot is a truly unique business, committed to providing the best aviation training content in the world.

“Padpilot’s relentless focus on quality and innovation has driven extraordinary levels of growth and we look forward to working with the whole team in continuing this trajectory for many years to come.

“(A) huge thank you to founders Graham and Jill Cownie for being a pleasure to work with and for placing their trust in Rose Street to support the remarkable company they have built.

“It’s been a great first year for Rose Street and I couldn’t be more excited for 2025.”

Source: KBS Corporate
Photo Credit: Padpilot

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