Airbus forecasts North America’s commercial aircraft services market value will be US$45 billion by 2042

Herndon, Virginia, 8 April 2024 – North America’s commercial aircraft services market will grow to US$45 billion from US$31 billion today (a 45% increase) by 2042 according to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast (GSF).

North America was the first and one of the strongest regions to bounce back in the post pandemic period. Last year proved that more people want to fly domestically and internationally, and that passenger traffic growth will continue at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1% in the region according to Airbus’ latest Global Market Forecast.

Driven by the rise in annual air traffic, fleet growth and the requirement for more digitally-enabled and connected aircraft, the growth in demand for services will be reflected in solutions implemented across all phases of the aircraft from delivery to end-of-life including fleet maintenance, aircraft modernization and training.

Airbus forecasts the maintenance market to grow from US$25.9 billion to US$37.8 billion (+2% CAGR over the next 20 years) in the region. Of this amount, passenger-to-freighter conversion and used serviceable material will be worth a cumulative estimated market value of US$17 billion over the next 20 years, which will help address aircraft retirement in a sustainable way. 

Meanwhile the market for enhancements and modernization is set to register the largest average annual growth (+4.1%) across the categories between 2023 and 2042, from US$1.9 billion to US$4.1 billion. This is driven by cabin and system upgrades, which will be in particularly high demand until 2030 as part of fleet and air traffic infrastructure modernization. Aircraft connectivity is another strong driver: Currently close to 60% of the North American fleet is connected. By 2042, 90% of the fleet will be connected in real time for better communication with airline operations on the ground, in flight and for maintenance, as well as enhancing the passenger experience.

The market for training and operations is expected to increase from US$2.5 billion in 2023 to US$3 billion in 2042 (+0.8%), with a plateau period following three years of sharp growth as the industry recovered from employee loss during the pandemic. Airbus anticipates a need for 366,000 new skilled professionals in North America over the next 20 years, comprising 104,000 new pilots, 120,000 new technicians and 142,000 new cabin crew members.

“North America is a region of choice when we think about aftermarket services, with many opportunities for additional efficiency, simplification and sustainable operations. Airbus will continue to play an important role in supporting airlines and the aviation industry at large in responding to those opportunities,” said Dominik Wacht, Vice President-Customer Services, Airbus North America.

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus designs and manufactures modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services.