Airbus Forecasts Air Traffic Involving Spain to Double by 2033

According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast, air traffic involving Spain will double by 2033 compared to 2013, and Madrid and Barcelona are expected to join the group of aviation megacities by 2033, with major traffic flows connecting to/from Latin America.

Domestic and international traffic to/from and within Spain will grow by 3.1% on average annually over the next 20 years.

To service the Spanish market there will be a demand of nearly 1,350 aircraft by 2033 including both domestic and foreign carriers.

Of the demand for 1,350 aircraft, Airbus believes more than 85% (1,150) will be single-aisle aircraft such as Airbus’ A320 Family. Nearly 15 % will be wide-body aircraft seating 250 to over 500 passengers such as today’s Airbus A330 Family, the A350 XWB Family and the A380.

Low Cost Carriers will also be a great contributor to the traffic growth involving Spain. Today, 45% of all seats offered within Europe are on an LCC flight. Short-haul traffic to/from the UK and Spain has the highest LCC market share. Another core market that will remain is short-haul traffic connecting to long-haul flights of major international carriers in Europe. Today, there are more than 50 million passengers per month that are connecting to long-haul flights and this market segment will continue to grow.

At the end of 2013, Airbus Operations Spain had a workforce of some 3,200 employees, and more than 1,000 Spanish companies are directly or indirectly suppliers to Airbus.

At the end of October 2014, the Airbus in-service fleet in Spain was 207 aircraft (50 wide-body and 157 single-aisle aircraft) with 88 more aircraft yet to be delivered including eight A350 XWBs.

Globally, in the next 20 years (2014-2033), according to Airbus’ Global Market Forecast, passenger traffic will grow annually at 4.7% driving a need for around 31,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft (100 seats and above) worth US$4.6 trillion. The passenger and freighter fleet will increase from today’s 18,500 aircraft to 37,500 by 2033, an increase of nearly 19,000 aircraft. Some 12,400 older less fuel efficient passenger and freighter aircraft will be retired.