European low-cost carriers will drive demand for airplanes over the next 20 years -Boeing

LONDON, Sept.21 (Reuters) – Builder Boeing (BN) has said low-cost European airlines will help drive demand for new aircraft in the region over the next 20 years as airlines replace fleets aging by more fuel efficient jets. .

Boeing said Tuesday it expects European airlines to order 7,100 new single-aisle jets, typically used for short-haul trips, by 2040, with low-cost specialists like Ryanair (RYA.I ) behind this request.

In fact, demand for aircraft in Europe will be driven even more heavily by low cost carriers than elsewhere in the world, said Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president of commercial marketing.

“Overall our forecast in general is around 40% of single-aisle demand for low cost carriers, and I would say you could argue in this European space that that number would be slightly higher,” he said. declared during a press briefing.

In the wide-body or long-haul sector, Boeing expects demand for 1,545 new jets in Europe over the 20-year period.

Of the 7,100 new single aisles, where Boeing’s 737s compete with Airbus A320s and A321s, Hulst expects nearly 3,000 applications to arrive over the next ten years.

Many traditional carriers like IAG (ICAG.L), owner of British Airways, and Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) also operate their own low cost brands, such as Vueling and Transavia respectively.

Ryanair, one of Boeing’s biggest customers in Europe, abruptly ended talks with the US aircraft manufacturer at the beginning of September over a new order for the biggest 737 MAX 10s, worth several tens of billions of dollars, due to price differences. Read more

But Boeing’s Hulst said Ryanair could always come back if he wanted more.

“I think we will continue to ensure that the 737 MAX 10 and you know of other 737 derivatives can help Ryanair to be a game changer even more,” he said.

Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Aurora Ellis

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