Doha, November 03 (QNA) - Boeing has projected that the commercial aircraft fleet in the Middle East will double to exceed 3,500 planes by 2045, driven by a similar increase in air travel demand.

The forecast was presented at a media briefing on the sidelines of the 59th General Assembly of the Arab Air Carriers' Organization in Doha, based on Boeing's 2026 Commercial Market Outlook.

The report projects annual passenger traffic growth of 4.3 percent in the Middle East over the next two decades, with regional airlines expected to receive around 3,000 new aircraft despite current global aviation challenges.

Boeing Managing Director of Commercial Marketing for the Middle East and Africa Shahab Matin said the region had established itself as a strategic global aviation hub.

He highlighted airlines' resilience, long-term growth plans, strong demand, modern fleets and continued airport infrastructure investment.

The Middle East is expected to require 1,370 new widebody aircraft, accounting for nearly half of regional deliveries through 2045, the highest share globally and more than twice the world average. Another 1,505 single-aisle aircraft will be needed for short-and medium-haul networks.

Regional carriers currently handle around 15 percent of international air cargo. Their share of the global large widebody freighter fleet is expected to double from less than 10 percent to around 20 percent over the next 20 years, requiring 120 new freighters to support supply-chain diversification and growing e-commerce demand.

The report also projects USD 475 billion in regional airline investment over two decades in digital services, aircraft maintenance and workforce development.

The aviation services market is expected to grow by around 4 percent annually.

By 2045, the region will need approximately 236,000 aviation professionals: 67,000 pilots, 65,000 maintenance technicians and 104,000 cabin crew.

Globally, Boeing forecasts demand for more than 44,000 new aircraft, with the commercial fleet growing nearly 80 percent to exceed 50,000 aircraft by 2045. (QNA)