Boeing Forecasts Middle East Fleet to More Than Double by 2045

Boeing’s 2026 Commercial Market Outlook projects that the Middle East commercial airplane fleet will exceed 3,500 aircraft by 2045, roughly twice its current size. The company forecasts 2,995 new airplane deliveries to regional airlines during the 20-year period.

Key details

• Boeing forecasts annual passenger traffic growth of 4.3% in the Middle East over the next 20 years.
• Of the projected deliveries, 1,505 are single-aisle airplanes, 1,370 are widebodies and 120 are freighters.
• Boeing estimates that airplanes delivered during the forecast period will make up approximately 85% of the region’s fleet in 2045.
• The company projects $475 billion in Middle East airline spending on digital services, airplane maintenance and personnel training over the next 20 years.
• Boeing forecasts that the region will need 236,000 aviation professionals through 2045: 67,000 pilots, 65,000 technicians and 104,000 cabin crew.

Boeing forecasts 2,995 new airplane deliveries to Middle East airlines from 2026 through 2045.

Why it matters

The forecast points to demand for a mix of single-aisle aircraft, widebodies and freighters, along with investment in maintenance, digital services and workforce training. Boeing also projects nearly 6% growth over 20 years on major routes between the Middle East and Asia, with traffic reaching three times its 2025 level by 2045.