LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Planemaker Boeing said
that European low-cost carriers would help drive demand for new
aircraft in the region over the next 20 years, as airlines
replace their ageing fleets with more fuel-efficient jets.
Boeing said on Tuesday that it expects airlines in Europe to
order 7,100 new single-aisle planes, usually used for short haul
trips, between now and 2040, with low-cost specialists like
Ryanair behind that demand.
In fact, Europe's demand for planes will be even more
strongly driven by low-cost carriers than elsewhere in the
world, said Boeing vice president, commercial marketing Darren
Hulst.
"Globally our forecast in general is about 40% of single
aisle demand is low-cost carrier, and I would say you could
argue in this European space that number would be slightly
higher," he told a press briefing.
In the widebody or long-haul sector, Boeing is expecting
demand for 1,545 new jets in Europe over the 20-year period.
Of the 7,100 new single aisle jets, where Boeing's 737 jets
compete against Airbus's A320 and A321s, Hulst is expecting
demand for close to 3,000 to come in the next ten years.
Many traditional carriers like British Airways-owner IAG
and Air France-KLM also operate their own
low-cost brands, such as Vueling and Transavia respectively.
Ryanair, one of Boeing's biggest customers in Europe,
earlier in September abruptly ended talks with the U.S.
planemaker over a new order of the larger 737 MAX 10 jets, worth
tens of billions of dollars, due to differences over price.
But Boeing's Hulst said that Ryanair could always come back
if it wanted more.
"I think we would continue to make sure that the 737 MAX 10
and you know other derivatives of the 737 can help Ryanair
change the game even more," he said.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
International Airlines (IAG)
