TOULOUSE, France — The Latin American and Caribbean aviation market is poised for explosive growth, with a projected need for more than 2,600 new aircraft over the next 20 years. This forecast was delivered by Damien Sternchuss, Vice President and Head of Airline Marketing at Airbus Latin America & Caribbean, during a presentation in Toulouse.

Speaking to attendees, including Aviacionline, at a special event hosted for Grupo Abra, Sternchuss outlined a robust future for the region, driven by strong economic and demographic trends.

"Aviation is a necessity in Latin America," Sternchuss stated, emphasizing the region's unique geography and urbanization. He noted that the market is forecast to see a "solid growth over the next 20 years," with domestic routes leading the charge at a 4.1% annual growth rate.

According to the Airbus forecast, this demand will require 2,600 new aircraft by 2045. The vast majority of this new fleet—approximately 90%—will be for single-aisle aircraft like the A320 family. The remaining 10% will be widebody aircraft, such as the A330 and A350, to serve growing international routes.

Sternchuss highlighted Airbus's dominant position in the region, where it currently has 870 aircraft in service, representing more than half of the total fleet. The company also maintains a healthy backlog of 450 aircraft destined for Latin American carriers, including the newly formed Abra Group.

"Aviation is a Necessity in Latin America": Airbus VP Details 2,600-Aircraft Regional Forecast

The presentation also focused on the strategic importance of Airbus's modern product line. Sternchuss lauded the A320 family for its "most successful aircraft ever" status, pointing to its market-leading capability in the region's challenging high-altitude airports, such as Bogota.

"This is where we've also been setting the standards in our region," he said, noting that 70% of operations out of high-altitude airports are performed by the A320 family.

He also detailed the strategic advantages of the new A321XLR, an aircraft he described as a "low-risk route opener" that offers "30% lower cost compared to equivalent previous-generation widebodies." This capability, he explained, allows airlines to explore new international markets with single-aisle economics.

Shifting to the widebody market, Sternchuss celebrated the A350 as one of the "most modern" aircraft in the portfolio. He detailed its advanced construction, which is "composed by 70% of advanced material," including more than 50% composite materials. This design, he said, results in a 25% lower fuel burn when compared to previous-generation aircraft.

Airbus's commitment to the region extends beyond aircraft sales. Sternchuss detailed the company's significant physical footprint, which includes over 1,300 employees and 17 sites across five countries, with major training centers in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile.