Flight Friday: Europe To See 40% Fleet Growth, $350B MRO Market By 2035

To coincide with the release of Aviation Week’s 2026 Fleet & MRO Forecast and the completion of MRO Europe 2025, this week’s Flight Friday is rather a Forecast Friday with a focus on Europe.

Europe, excluding Russia, is poised to take delivery of approximately 5,200 aircraft over the next decade. These deliveries will not only support fleet growth but also replace some of the 2,000 aircraft expected to retire during the same period.

By the end of 2026, Europe’s fleet will comprise just over 7,500 aircraft, but by 2035, this number is projected to exceed 10,500, a testament to the region’s sustained demand for air travel and ongoing fleet modernization. 

The composition of Europe’s fleet in 2035 will be heavily weighted toward Airbus, which is forecast to account for 55% of the in-service fleet. Boeing will follow with a 38% market share, underscoring the duopoly’s continued dominance in the region. Notably, the Airbus A320 family is expected to play a pivotal role, representing over 40% of Europe’s fleet by 2035.

The growth of Europe’s fleet will drive significant demand for MRO services, with the forecast valuing the region’s MRO market at over $350 billion over the next decade. Engine maintenance will dominate this demand, accounting for the largest share of MRO activity. The forecast anticipates more than 21,000 engine overhaul events.

This data was put together using Aviation Week’s 2026 Commercial Fleet & MRO Forecast.