Airbus expects the airline services market to recover to pre pandemic levels in 2023 and to double in value over the next 20 years – from $95bn today to over $230bn in 2041, according to its latest Global Services Forecast (GSF).
As a result, the number of people working in aviation services, keeping the world’s fleets flying on a daily basis, is set to increase by a further two million.
“Every day millions of people in services, hidden champions behind the scenes, keep our global fleet of aircraft flying,” said Philippe Mhun, Airbus EVP Programmes and Services.
“The number of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance specialists is set to grow by a further two million by 2041.
“Accelerated digitalisation of operations and maintenance as well as a higher proportion of latest generation aircraft in service will lead to a massive requirement for new skills and job creation, leveraging new tools and ways of working in order to further increase our sector’s efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions.”
A compounded annual growth rate of 3.7%, will lead to a doubling in the value of the services market in the next two decades with a bigger than ever demand for highly skilled labour: 585,000 new pilots, 640,000 new technicians and 875,000 new cabin crews.
Mhun continued, “As operators focus more on their core business, services to improve aircraft availability and efficiency will increasingly be outsourced, boosting the market for those providers. These services will be driven by sustainability and enabled by digitalisation, connectivity and innovation, to maximise efficiency in support of CO2 net zero ambitions.”
