10,500 sub-150 seat aircraft orders seen by 2043

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More than 10,500 orders for commercial aircraft deliveries in the sub-150-seat category, worth $640 billion, are likely through 2043, according to a Market Outlook released by Embraer at the Farnborough International Airshow, UK.

The 20-year outlook by Embraer, a global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, also presents analyses of global influences and trends in six world regions that impact the demand for new aircraft, including jets and turboprops.

The relevance of the small narrowbody category is increasing. Larger aircraft are not always economically or operationally optimal for medium and lower-density markets, particularly when multiple daily frequencies are essential for those cities to stay well-connected, the report said. Fleets with these aircraft benefit when complemented by smaller narrowbodies in the sub-150-seat segment. Small narrowbodies go where bigger jets cannot, do so more frequently, and usually more profitably, it said.

As the average aircraft size in key world regions increases, a reflection of the strong orderbook for 200-seat narrowbodies, it becomes clear that a mixed fleet of small and large narrowbodies is the best way to serve the diverse characteristics of an airline network, it said.

Arjan Meijer, Embraer’s President & CEO of Commercial Aviation, said: “A mix fleet of sub-150-seat jets and larger narrowbodies will be the successful fleet strategy for the next 20 years. The post-pandemic environment is different in so many ways. The business/leisure passenger mix is different. Demand patterns are different. The corporate workplace is different. And e-commerce is booming. Carriers are adding capacity in big markets, yet smaller cities still need to stay well-connected to airline networks with high frequency air service. We believe aircraft in the sub-150-seat category are the most efficient and cost-effective to address that need.”

The Market Outlook 2024 also contains analysis of the cargo aircraft market and cites new opportunities for small-narrowbody freighters resulting from the projected growth in online commerce.

Highlights of the Commercial Market Outlook

World passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, has returned to 2019 levels except for the Asia Pacific/China region. RPKs are forecast to grow 4% annually through 2043.

Annual RPK regional growth rate – ranked

* 5.0% Asia Pacific (includes China)

* 4.9% Latin America

* 4.4% Africa

* 4.4% Middle East

* 3.3% Europe

* 2.4% North America

RPK share by the end of 2043

*38% Asia Pacific

* 38% Europe + North America

Global demand for new aircraft up to 150 seats

* 10,500 units