COMAC forecasts China will need 5,541 aircraft in the next 20 years

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) has forecasted that global airlines will take delivery of 35,166 commercial jets over the next 20 years, valued at US$4.45 trillion, and China will need 5,541 mainline and regional airplanes, according its Market Forecast Report. Global revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) will register a year-on-year growth of 4.8 percent over the next 20 years, while Chinese RPK will grow 6.8 percent annually. The air travel demand in emerging economies such as China will grow faster than the global average rate. The number of air travelers will be 2.6 times of the current volume by 2033.