HONG KONG (AP) - Airbus says Asia's rapidly growing middle classes will drive demand for new airplanes over the next two decades.
The European plane maker predicts that the Asia Pacific area will account for the biggest share of new aircraft deliveries globally. The company forecasts that 8,560 passenger aircraft will be delivered in the region over the next 20 years. That's 33 percent of the world total, up from 26 percent in the previous 20 years.
An Airbus executive said Monday that the growth of megacities in the region will require more large planes to service routes between those hubs.
Smaller jets will also be needed to fill demand from the rising popularity of budget airlines, as well as new short-haul routes.