Hyderabad: Indian and South Asian airlines will need nearly 3,300 new airplanes by 2044 as passenger traffic across the region rises an average of 7% annually over the next two decades, American aircraft manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday.In its latest Commercial Market Outlook for South Asia, unveiled at Wings India 2026, Boeing projected that the region’s airplane fleet will expand from 795 aircraft today to 2,925 by 2044, nearly quadrupling as carriers add capacity and replace older jets. The growth is expected to be led by domestic travel within India, supported by a continued shift from rail to air and ongoing investment in airport infrastructure and connectivity.It forecast single-aisle aircraft to account for almost 90% of deliveries, reflecting the demand for flexibility on fast-growing short-haul and medium-haul routes. Boeing’s delivery outlook for 2025–2044 includes 2,875 single-aisle jets, 395 widebody aircraft, about 20 freighters and fewer than 10 regional jets, for a total of 3,290 airplanes in India and South Asia, Ashwin Naidu, managing director-commercial marketing, Boeing, said.Boeing also expects Indian and South Asian carriers to broaden long-haul networks as India’s role grows as an international passenger and cargo hub. The region’s widebody fleet is projected to more than triple by 2044, supporting expanded service to markets including the Middle East, Europe and North America, he added.Cargo demand is also expected to rise, driven by high-tech manufacturing growth and expanding e-commerce, with the region’s freighter fleet projected to grow fivefold.To support the expansion, Boeing has estimated more than $195 billion in aviation services spending and demand for about 1.41 lakh new aviation professionals, including roughly 45,000 pilots, 45,000 technicians and 51,000 cabin crew, Naidu said.
