Boeing: Global Commercial Fleet Will Top 50,000 Airplanes in 20 Years as Passenger Traffic Doubles

Boeing projects that near-term disruptions will not significantly affect long-term aviation growth, forecasting passenger demand will double over the next 20 years. Speaking ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, United Kingdom, on July 18, 2026, Boeing released its 2026 Commercial Market Outlook. The company expects the global commercial airplane fleet to grow nearly 80% to more than 50,000 aircraft by 2045. Boeing anticipates nearly 44,000 new deliveries through 2045, with about half replacing older, less fuel-efficient models. It also projects passenger traffic will rise about 4% annually between 2026 and 2045, doubling global air traffic. The outlook links growth to emerging-market travel, point-to-point network expansion, and air cargo, while noting airlines have added nearly 5,500 new airport pairs since 2015.