Boeing sees $4.9tn services market, 2.4mn new aviation jobs by 2045
Desk Report
| Published: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Boeing on Friday released its 20-year outlook for the commercial aviation services market, projecting a $4.9 trillion support and services market alongside demand for more than 2.4 million new commercial aviation professionals through 2045.
The forecasts, drawn from the company's Services Market Outlook and Pilot & Technician Outlook, were published ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow, which opens next week near London.
According to Boeing's 2026 Commercial Market Outlook, sustained growth in commercial aviation is expected to continue, with air traffic and demand projected to double over the next two decades. The company said near-term disruptions in the industry are not expected to affect this long-term growth trajectory.
Key trends shaping the services market
Boeing identified five trends it expects to shape the aviation services sector over the next 20 years: efficiency initiatives centred on aircraft lifecycle management, increased aircraft digitalisation and data-driven services, geographic shifts in where aviation services are needed, broader transformation of the aviation workforce, and rising personnel demand driven by retirements.
Chris Raymond, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, said the company expects strong demand for services across its portfolio and new opportunities as fleets become more digitally connected. He said Boeing would continue to modernise its business digitally and invest in skilled workers to keep aircraft flying safely and efficiently.
Workforce demand: pilots, technicians and cabin crew
Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects the industry will need approximately 674,000 new pilots, 728,000 maintenance technicians, and 1,023,000 cabin crew members worldwide through 2045—a combined total of more than 2.4 million new aviation professionals.
The company said that two-thirds of this demand will come from replacing retiring personnel, while one-third will support fleet growth. Boeing pointed to competency-based training and assessment, along with new training technologies, as tools that could help address global shortages of pilots and technicians.
Chris Broom, Vice President of Commercial Training Solutions at Boeing Global Services, said immersive technologies would enhance training and support competency-based approaches to maintain high training standards as the global fleet expands.
Regional breakdown of demand through 2045
| Region | New Pilots | New Technicians | New Cabin Crew | Total New Personnel | Services & Support Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global | 674,000 | 728,000 | 1,023,000 | 2,425,000 | $4.9T |
| Eurasia | 153,000 | 169,000 | 249,000 | 571,000 | $1,185B |
| North America | 122,000 | 125,000 | 191,000 | 438,000 | $995B |
| China | 123,000 | 131,000 | 171,000 | 425,000 | $875B |
| Middle East | 67,000 | 65,000 | 104,000 | 236,000 | $475B |
| Southeast Asia | 66,000 | 83,000 | 109,000 | 258,000 | $425B |
| Latin America | 38,000 | 42,000 | 56,000 | 136,000 | $260B |
| South Asia | 48,000 | 48,000 | 54,000 | 150,000 | $220B |
| Northeast Asia | 24,000 | 28,000 | 43,000 | 95,000 | $200B |
| Africa | 22,000 | 25,000 | 28,000 | 75,000 | $140B |
| Oceania | 11,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 41,000 | $85B |
Eurasia leads all regions in projected demand, requiring 571,000 new aviation personnel and $1.185 trillion in services and support spending—the largest of any region tracked in the outlook. China follows with a projected need for 425,000 new personnel and $875 billion in services demand, while South Asia—which includes Bangladesh—is projected to need 150,000 new aviation professionals and $220 billion in services and support spending through 2045.
Source: PR