KUCHING: Asia-Pacific’s aviation services market is expected to reach USD138.7 billion (approximately RM568.7 billion) by 2044, with total services demand forecast to grow at a 5.2 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2044.
In its latest Global Services Forecast for Asia-Pacific, including China and India, Airbus said the company said the outlook is underpinned by expanding air traffic and fleet growth.
“Over the next 20 years, Asia-Pacific will require 19,560 new passenger aircraft, accounting for 46 per cent of total global demand during the forecast period.
“Asia-Pacific is also expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing air travel market, with passenger traffic rising 4.4 per cent annually, above the global average of 3.6 per cent,” it said in a statement.
The forecast identified five key services segments across Asia-Pacific, led by off-wing maintenance, projected at USD37.1 billion (approximately RM152.1 billion) in 2025 and USD100 billion (approximately RM410 billion) by 2044.
It said demand is increasing rapidly as fleets grow and age, but the segment faces constraints stemming from supply chain challenges and labour shortages.
On-wing maintenance was estimated at USD6 billion (approximately RM24.6 billion) in 2025 and USD14 billion (approximately RM57.4 billion) by 2044.
Airbus said substantial capital investment is flowing into MRO infrastructure, with new base maintenance hangars under construction in key markets including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, strengthening regional maintenance capabilities.
For modifications and upgrades, Airbus projected USD3.8 billion (approximately RM15.6 billion) in 2025 and USD6.2 billion (approximately RM25.4 billion) by 2044, as airlines undertake increasingly complex retrofits on ageing aircraft and drive demand for cabin modernisation, including premium cabin products and in-flight connectivity.
Digital and connectivity services were forecast at USD2.9 billion (approximately RM11.9 billion) in 2025 and USD11.2 billion (approximately RM45.9 billion) by 2044, with Airbus pointing out that airlines and MROs are accelerating the adoption of AI and data analytics to enhance efficiency.
It said the technologies support predictive maintenance, optimise operations and help mitigate labour shortages through automation.
Airbus forecast training at USD3.2 billion (approximately RM13.1 billion) in 2025 and USD7.7 billion (approximately RM31.6 billion) by 2044, as the region transitions towards competency-based training and assessment.
It said more than 1.06 million new aviation professionals will be required by 2044, including 282,000 pilots, 302,000 technicians and 473,000 cabin crew.
The latest forecast also highlighted two further services segments that are increasingly critical to airline and MRO performance: maintenance operations support, with demand in Asia-Pacific expected to reach USD46.4 billion (approximately RM190.2 billion) by 2044, and ground operations, with the Asia-Pacific market forecast to reach USD31 billion (approximately RM127.1 billion) by 2044.
