AirbusPublished on 14 OCT 2026Maintenance

Airbus forecasts growing services market to double by 2045

Toulouse, France, 14 October 2026 – Airbus anticipates that total demand for aviation services will double from 2026 reaching an estimated value of more than US$420 billion by 2045. These services, which sustain the aviation sector’s robustness, will grow at a 3.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), supporting an increasing world aircraft fleet of 45,550 by 2045. Over the same 20 year period, passenger numbers will double to 10 billion.

This will lead to a cumulative need for 730,000 maintenance technicians, 660,000 pilots and 1,050,000 cabin crew, totalling more than 2.44 million additional skilled people.

Digital solutions and connectivity underpin all sectors of the services market supporting airlines to improve operational efficiency, reduce disruptions such as delays and cancellations, maintenance agility and real-time connectivity to meet passenger expectations for a seamless journey.

Airbus’ GSF outlines six key services segments:

As the global fleet doubles to more than 45,550 aircraft by 2045, we need to get ready. Airbus is expanding its role as an integral services partner to support our customers across the entire aircraft lifecycle. By integrating predictive operations, fleet modernisation, and advanced digital solutions, we are helping airlines ensure fleet availability, reliability, safety and long-term operational excellence,” highlights Cristina Aguilar Grieder, SVP Customer Services Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.

In the next 20 years, Europe & CIS, North America and China will remain the largest services markets in terms of total demand, while Asia (Asia-Pacific, China and South Asia) is projected to be the fastest growing. The Airbus GSF is aircraft agnostic, focusing on passenger jets with a capacity exceeding 100 seats and freighters with a payload capability above 10 tonnes.

Read the full Global Services Forecast

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Justin Dubon

AIRBUS | Commercial Aircraft

+33 6 74 97 49 51

justin.dubon@airbus.com

Sandrine Cazes

AIRBUS | Commercial Aircraft

+33 6 12 95 10 37

sandrine.cazes@airbus.com