Rolls-Royce highlights Outlook for China's Civil Aviation Market

Rolls-Royce said today at the Aviation Expo China event in Beijing that more than half of the predicted orders to meet increasing demand for passenger aircraft in China will be in the twin-aisle aircraft sector.

Over the next 20 years, airline traffic in China will grow by nine per cent per annum, creating a requirement for a total of 2,300 new aircraft. Fifty two per cent of these are forecast to be widebody aircraft, which would be almost twice the global average.

The Rolls-Royce Market Outlook also forecasts that passenger air traffic market in the Asia Pacific region will exceed Europe in 2008 and subsequently overtake the USA in 2022 to become the largest segment in the world.

Steve Miller, Vice President, Customer Business - China, Rolls-Royce, commented, “In the last five years, passenger traffic in China has witnessed an unprecedented rise of 95 per cent, and looks like it will continue to be the fastest growing market over the next 20 years.

“This increased demand for new aircraft fleets will drive an engine market worth $34 billion by value in China alone, which is almost 10 per cent of the global market. The Rolls-Royce Trent family of engines is well-placed in China and offers the best engine performance levels for the country’s most demanding airports.

“China is already a significant region in the civil aviation industry, and will grow in importance over the next two decades.”

The figures are taken from the latest 20-year Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace Market Outlook, which covers forecast aircraft and engine demand for mainline and regional airlines, and corporate jets, for the period 2005-2024.

The forecast covers aircraft ranging in size from small business jets up to the largest airliners. Strong demand is seen across the aircraft spectrum, with increasing airline and airport liberalisation driving growth in many international and domestic markets

The relationship between Rolls-Royce plc and China stretches back more than 40 years. Today, the company has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and Hong Kong.

Over 200 Rolls-Royce powered aircraft are currently operating with 11 Chinese airlines, including Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

Rolls-Royce Trent 500 power China Eastern’s Airbus A340-600s. All three major airlines groups in mainland China, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have chosen the Trent 700 to power their Airbus A330s.

The Rolls-Royce AE3007 engine powers the Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft which are built locally in Harbin which entered service with China Eastern in August.

The Aviation Expo China 2005 is being held in Beijing between 21-24 September.

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