Airbus has forecasted orders for 8,560 new aircraft, worth $1.2tn, from Asia-Pacific airlines over the next 20 years.

The region’s requirement represents 33% of new aircraft deliveries worldwide and overtakes North America and Europe as the largest air transport market.

Airbus expects the number of passengers carried by Asia-Pacific airlines to increase by 5.8% annually, compared with the global average of 4.8%.

The Asia-Pacific airlines would benefit from the ongoing strong economic growth, greater liberalisation of the air transport system and greater wealth creation.

The forecast for the region has been derived from the company’s global market forecast, which anticipates a total demand for 25,850 new passenger and freighter aircraft, valued at $3.2tn over the next 20 years.