Market for new large airplanes continues to shrink

Market for new large airplanes continues to shrink

Keywords Aircraft,Boeing, Markets

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group's 1998 edition of the Current Market Outlook bolsters the company's decision not to build an airplane larger than today's 747.

The annual forecast recently released estimates the smallest market segment, 747-size or larger airplanes, will total 15 per cent of the dollars invested in new jetliners, or 1,030 airplanes.

By contrast, small airplanes will capture the largest segment of the market over the next 20 years.

The annual forecast projects seven out of ten airplanes delivered during the next two decades will be single-aisle airplanes ­ the size of the Boeing 717, 737 and 757. Airplanes of this size will account for 42 per cent of the dollars invested in new airplanes, or 12,260 airplanes.

The intermediate-size airplanes, such as the Boeing 767 and 777, will represent one out of four future airplane deliveries. Airplanes of this size will account for 43 per cent of the dollars invested in new airplanes, or 4,360 airplanes.