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IN BRIEF
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Did you think the sky was already saturated with planes? Think again! On the planet, some countries display an insatiable appetite for aerial devices, with orders literally soaring. Amidst passenger traffic growth, national ambitions, and industrial strategies, the race for new aircraft is intense. Three destinations perfectly illustrate this spectacular enthusiasm. Keep your eyes wide open; the demand never skyrockets this high!
At a time when Boeing incidents are making headlines, it would be unfair to summarize the aviation sector by its few turbulences! The air traffic market has never been so dynamic: over 5 billion passengers expected this year, manufacturers overwhelmed with orders, and some countries where order books look like an XXL cookbook. A closer look at three destinations where demand for aircraft exceeds all expectations: India, China, and Morocco. Enough to give wings to anyone dreaming of fresh air… with a view from the sky!
India: the turbo of global aviation
India is literally flying from record to record. Impossible to overlook: IndiGo, the local air champion, has just checked off a new batch on its shopping list with 30 additional Airbus A350s. But the fireworks don’t stop there: Air India, after signing the “order of the century” for 470 aircraft last year, is now flirting with a new order of 200 single-aisle planes, both from Airbus and Boeing. Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer, doesn’t intend to stay on the sidelines and is also trying to win over these greedy airlines. Competition is fierce on Indian tarmacs and, to keep up with this mad race, settling for a training flight is not an option. According to some observers, this frenzy is expected to amplify, propelling India into the exclusive club of sky giants. It must be said that even the scent of adventure no longer suffices to curb the subcontinent’s appetite for travel!
China: growth under high pressure
Let’s take a tour in the land of the dragon: China has nothing to envy from its neighbors. On the contrary, with a traffic growth of more than 5% per year, it would like to engrave its name in the sky with an oversized fleet. Result: up to 8,400 aircraft could soon enrich the air park of the Middle Empire, and this by 2040. The trade war between China and the United States has the effect of an earthquake on the market: Airbus, which already has two local factories, is enjoying a rain of orders (potentially between 200 and 500!) while Boeing is gloomy, with some Chinese airlines now shunning its aircraft. As for their own manufacturer, COMAC, it currently reigns in the beginner category and does not (yet) threaten the industry giants. Those who doubt China’s dynamism just have to follow the frantic rhythm of planes taking off every minute from Beijing’s tarmac. And in such a context, it’s no surprise to see airlines cancel already established contracts, collateral victims of a giants’ war where the sky is a true battleground.
Morocco: the rising star of Africa
One might think Africa is watching aircraft fly from a distance… Think again! Morocco, with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) leading the way, comes to prove that the kingdom has no intention of staying grounded. RAM proudly displays its ambitions: to triple its current fleet in twelve years and acquire 188 new aircraft—Airbus, Boeing, or Embraer, it doesn’t matter as long as it flies! The stated goal: to have a fleet of 200 aircraft, a giant leap considering the airline currently has “only” 50. In this context, it’s no longer about observing the caravan of other countries: Morocco intends to carve its own path, determined to leave its mark on the map of major air carriers. Who would have thought that a small kingdom in North Africa would ride the wave of globalization, propelled by the tireless ambition of its leaders?
A market that is still flying high
In the end, aircraft on order, gigantic modernization plans, and a fierce appetite for new planes are the rain and shine of the aviation sector. Whether it’s the Indian fever, the Chinese explosion, or Moroccan audacity, the demand for aircraft is soaring ever higher, much to the chagrin of some manufacturers’ turbulences. And while passengers around the world await their next flight, aircraft manufacturers have rarely had as many reasons to jump for joy. Want to know more about travel experiences? Take a look at how some companies enhance their passengers’ experience to respond, precisely, to this XXL demand.
But let’s not forget, as passenger volumes explode, that embarking on an adventure has never been easier… as long as you are well prepared, if only to avoid ending up with a death certificate as proof at the border… Times are changing, but the love for travel never wanes!
