Boeing forecasts that the Middle East’s commercial airline fleet will double to more than 3,500 aircraft over the next 20 years, as passenger traffic in the region grows 4.3 percent a year, according to its 2026 Commercial Market Outlook.

The US manufacturer said airlines in the region are expected to take delivery of nearly 3,000 new aircraft by 2045, both to grow their fleets and to replace older aircraft. Its table lists 2,995 deliveries: 1,505 single-aisle aircraft, 1,370 widebodies, and 120 freighters. Boeing said about 85 percent of the region’s fleet in 2045 will be aircraft delivered over the next two decades.

Boeing said the Middle East’s share of global passenger traffic is twice the region’s share of the world’s population, reflecting the scale of its carriers’ long-haul networks. It forecast almost 6 percent annual growth on major routes to Asia, with volumes tripling from 2025 levels by 2045.

The company said widebody jets will account for nearly half of the region’s deliveries, the highest share of any region and more than double the global average. Single-aisle aircraft are expected to support short- and medium-haul growth, including low-cost carriers.

On cargo, Boeing said Middle East carriers handle about 15 percent of international air cargo. It expects the region’s share of the global large widebody freighter fleet to double from under 10 percent to nearly 20 percent, which would require 120 new widebody freighters.

Boeing also forecast that airlines in the region will invest 475 billion US dollars over 20 years in digital services, maintenance, and training, and that the sector will need 236,000 new aviation professionals by 2045. That figure comprises 67,000 pilots, 65,000 technicians, and 104,000 cabin crew.

Matin said the Middle East has long been “one of the world’s most important aviation crossroads”, connecting people and economies across Asia, Africa, and Europe. He said the region’s airlines have proved resilient and have ambitious growth plans backed by strong demand, modern fleets, and investment in infrastructure.

Boeing said its Commercial Market Outlook, published since 1961, projects worldwide demand for nearly 44,000 new aircraft by 2045, with the global fleet expected to grow by almost 80 percent to more than 50,000 aircraft.

Source: Boeing