Airbus Forecasts Over 2.44 Million Additional Aviation Personnel by 2045
In its forward-looking study on aeronautical services, published on October 14, 2026 in Toulouse, Airbus estimated that this demand would grow at an average annual growth rate of 3.8%. The aircraft manufacturer bases this projection on a global fleet that would reach 45,550 aircraft by 2045.
A cumulative need for 2.44 million skilled personnel according to Airbus
According to the manufacturer, the number of passengers would double over the same twenty-year period to reach 10 billion. This increase would result in a cumulative need for 730,000 maintenance technicians, 660,000 pilots and 1,050,000 cabin crew members, or more than 2.44 million additional skilled personnel.
Airbus presents digital solutions and connectivity as the foundation of the entire services market, which its study divides into six segments. These should enable airlines to improve their operational efficiency, reduce disruptions such as delays and cancellations, and gain agility in maintenance.
"Airbus is expanding its role as an integrated services partner to support its customers throughout the lifecycle of aircraft," said Cristina Aguilar Grieder, Senior Vice President of Customer Services for Airbus Commercial Aircraft. She cited predictive maintenance, fleet modernization and advanced digital solutions as drivers of aircraft availability and reliability.
Asia, the zone of strongest growth expected by the aircraft manufacturer
By the end of the study period, Europe and the CIS, North America and China would remain, according to Airbus, the main services markets in terms of total demand. Asia (Asia-Pacific, China and South Asia) would record, according to the group's projections, the fastest growth.
The study is not limited to aircraft from the manufacturer: it covers passenger aircraft with more than 100 seats and cargo aircraft with a payload capacity exceeding 10 tonnes, regardless of their manufacturer.
