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Lufthansa machines in Munich: The demand for flights is increasing
Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa
Flying is booming again: the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is expecting the number of aircraft required to double in the next 20 years due to the further increase in air traffic worldwide.
Airbus estimates that 39,490 passenger and cargo aircraft will be needed by 2041, the company said in its market outlook on Monday.
In 2020, the global fleet consisted of 22,880 machines.
According to the Airbus forecast, airlines will need more machines, and they will also have to replace old aircraft.
Airbus competitor Boeing expects even greater demand.
According to Airbus, the corona pandemic has no long-term consequences for global air traffic.
The aircraft manufacturer estimates that the pre-crisis level will be reached again between 2023 and 2025.
Airbus emphasized that the latest aircraft used 15 to 20 percent less fuel and would therefore emit correspondingly less CO₂.
Aviation has committed to “net zero emissions” by 2050.
Passengers still need patience
At the moment, however, it is not a lack of machines that is causing the airlines problems, but above all a lack of staff.
There are long queues, delays and thousands of flight cancellations at airports in Germany and Europe.
According to a new study, the chaos is likely to last longer and also lead to higher ticket prices for passengers.
Since the beginning of 2022, kerosene costs have risen by 89 percent and are likely to continue to rise, according to an analysis by credit insurer Allianz Trade.
Accordingly, flying in the current year should be 21 percent more expensive than a year ago.
According to the insurer, wages and salaries for staff are the second most important cost for airlines after fuel.
Wages and salaries made up 25 percent of the turnover of European airlines.
"In a financially strained environment, there is little incentive to increase the staff cut during the pandemic," say the analysts.
The airlines in Europe had reduced their workforce by a further eight percent last year, it said.
This is now also leading to flight cancellations.
"The airlines are trying to make up for the losses of two years of the corona pandemic," said Milo Bogaerts, head of Allianz Trade in the Germany, Austria and Switzerland region.
mic/AFP/Reuters