Singapore. In its latest Global Services Forecast (GSF) for Asia-Pacific (including China and India), Airbus anticipates that total services demand in the region will grow at a 5.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2044, reaching an estimated market value of US$138.7 billion.
This sustained growth will be underpinned by expanding air traffic and fleet growth. Over the next 20 years, Asia-Pacific will require 19,560 new passenger aircraft, accounting for 46% of total global demand during the forecast period. The region is also expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing air travel market, with passenger traffic rising at 4.4% annually, well above the global average of 3.6%.
The Airbus GSF identifies five key services segments that will drive this growth across Asia-Pacific:
- Off-Wing Maintenance (2025: US$37.1 billion; 2044: US$100 billion) – Demand is increasing rapidly as fleets grow and age. However, the segment faces significant constraints stemming from supply chain challenges and labour shortages.
- On-Wing Maintenance (2025: US$6 billion; 2044: US$14 billion) – Substantial capital investment is flowing into MRO infrastructure, with new base maintenance hangars under construction in key markets including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, strengthening regional maintenance capabilities.
- Modifications & Upgrades (2025: US$3.8 billion; 2044: US$6.2 billion) – Airlines are undertaking increasingly complex retrofits on ageing aircraft, driving strong demand for cabin modernisation. These programmes are being leveraged to introduce premium cabin products and In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) to meet evolving passenger expectations.
- Digital & Connectivity (2025: US$2.9 billion; 2044: US$11.2 billion) – Airlines and MROs are accelerating the adoption of AI and data analytics to enhance efficiency. These technologies support predictive maintenance, optimise operations and help mitigate labour shortages through automation.
- Training (2025: US$3.2 billion; 2044: US$7.7 billion) – The region is rapidly transitioning towards Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA). To support growth, more than 1.06 million new aviation professionals will be required by 2044, including 282,000 pilots, 302,000 technicians and 473,000 cabin crew.
In addition, the latest GSF highlights two further services segments that are increasingly critical to airline and MRO performance:
- Maintenance Operations Support – Encompassing engineering services, technical records, inventory management and fleet-wide planning, this segment is a key operational enabler for both operators and MROs. Demand in Asia-Pacific is expected to reach US$46.4 billion by 2044.
- Ground Operations – A vital link between airside efficiency and aircraft turnaround performance, this segment is being reshaped by automation and digitalisation to drive higher operational efficiency. The Asia-Pacific ground operations market is forecast to reach US$31 billion by 2044.
As the aviation ecosystem continues to evolve, growth in services demand is increasingly concentrated in Asia-Pacific. Although mature markets will continue to provide scale, Asia-Pacific, driven by South Asia and China, will define the next phase of global aviation services growth, reshaping capacity, capabilities and investment priorities worldwide.
