PARIS: Rising demand in emerging economies and the soaring success of low-cost airlines is set to raise the market’s need for passenger jets over the next two decades, Airbus said Friday.

In a revised market outlook, the European planemaker put the value of nearly 37,400 new aircraft required to meet global demand at $5.8 trillion.

In 2017, Airbus had estimated the world would need 35,000 new planes by 2036, valued at $5.3 trillion.

“The world’s passenger fleet will more than double to 48,000 aircraft in 20 years ... driving a need for 37,390 new passenger and freighter aircraft” by 2037, Airbus said in a statement.

The jetmaker said it expected global air traffic to rise 4.4 percent per year.

“Growth drivers include private consumption increasing 2.4 times in emerging economies, higher disposable incomes and a near doubling of the middle classes globally,” the statement said.

According to Airbus’ chief commercial officer Eric Schulz, the main drivers of growth are the Chinese and Indian markets.

Airbus also cited “evolving airline business models”, or low-cost carriers, as key boosters for the industry.

“Of the 37,390 new aircraft required, 26,540 are for growth and 10,850 will replace older generation less fuel efficient aircraft,” the statement said.—AFP