Regional focus
Each region will respond to its unique situation and conditions with specialized requirements. Middle East airlines continue to favor widebody airplanes and premium passenger services to leverage the area's geographic advantages and prominence in business travel. Europe and North America airlines will respond to growing competition from low-cost carriers by replacing older, fuel-inefficient airplanes with more economical single-aisle models. The large installed airplane base in these areas generates a need for a considerable number of replacement airplanes, even though growth is slower than in other parts of the world. In Asia, rising demand will require a mix of single-aisle and widebody airplanes.
All regions will face similar challenges of fuel-price volatility, emission control regimes, and ever-increasing airport congestion as the growing world fleet works to keep pace with burgeoning international and local demand for air travel.