Boeing announces improved outlook

The world’s second-largest maker of airliners sees stronger demand for single-aisle, mid-sized twin-aisle and planes as large or larger than the 747 Jumbo. Its long-term forecast for regional jets was weaker than a year earlier.

Its figures assume annual average growth of 4.8 per cent in global passenger traffic.

The Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest market, accounting for 36 per cent of the value of total demand.

‘‘Single-aisle airplanes will dominate the market in the next 20 years,’’ said Randy Baseler, vice-president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. He said airlines would add mid-sized, twin-aisle planes for longer routes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, while the very large airplane market would account for only about 3 per cent of deliveries.

Rival Airbus in December released a 20-year forecast for 17,300 planes worth $1.9 trillion, with a far greater focus on large planes where it sees demand for some 1,650 aircraft.