China’s aviation sector is booming, and Airbus and Boeing are feeling the pressure to keep up with demand. According to Greg Waldron, Asia managing director at FlightGlobal, China’s rapidly growing aviation market is putting pressure on the two aircraft manufacturers to increase production. Waldron says that this pressure is not limited to Boeing but also affects Airbus.
The increase in demand is being driven by a number of factors, including China’s growing middle class, its increasing urbanization, and its expanding tourism industry. As a result of these factors, China is expected to become the world’s largest aviation market within the next decade.
Airbus and Boeing are both responding to the increased demand by ramping up production. Airbus plans to increase production of its A320 family of aircraft from 42 per month to 60 per month by 2019. Boeing is also increasing production of its 737 family of aircraft, from 47 per month to 52 per month by 2018.
The pressure from China’s aviation sector is a testament to the country’s growing economic power. As China continues to grow, its aviation sector will continue to expand, and Airbus and Boeing will need to continue to increase production to meet demand.
