Airbus Cuts 20-Year China Narrow-Body Delivery Forecast By Nearly 500 Jets

Airbus has lowered its forecast for narrow-body aircraft deliveries in China over the next 20 years to 7,480 jets, down by nearly 500 from last year’s estimate, according to Ming Pao. Francois Cabaret, Airbus head of global market forecasts, said the revision mainly reflects the impact of China’s expanding high-speed rail network. He said the broader effect on the aviation industry should be limited, with only very short-haul traffic gradually shifting away from airlines. Cabaret added that using aircraft on very short routes is not the best use of airport runway infrastructure. He said some passenger traffic moving to high-speed rail could create synergies with aviation, as travelers may take rail first and then connect to long-haul flights.