MORE than £2.2 trillion in expected orders will secure 6,000 jobs at Airbus in Broughton for the next 20 years, the company said yesterday.

The European plane maker announced it expects demand for more than 27,800 aircraft between now and 2030.

According to its latest Global Market Forecast (GMF), over the next two decades the new aircraft – with wings built at the company’s Deeside factory – will be required to “satisfy future robust market demand”.

The combined value of over 26,900 passenger aircraft (above 100 seats) and more than 900 factory-built freighters forecast by the GMF is £2.2 trillion.

As a result, by 2030 the global passenger fleet will more than double from today’s 15,000 aircraft to 31,500.

This will include some 27,800 new aircraft deliveries of which 10,500 will be needed for replacing older less fuel-efficient aircraft.

Airbus boss John Leahy told LDP Business: “The aviation sector is an essential element for today’s global economy which is why more people than ever need and want to fly.

“Airbus is bringing to market the latest innovations and eco-efficient products to satisfy the needs of airlines and the expectations of passengers now and in the years to come.”

The company said the trend towards larger aircraft will continue, in order for the aviation sector to keep pace with future growth in demand.

Airbus forecasted revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) will grow by an average 4.8% per year, which is equivalent to traffic more than doubling in the next 20 years.

Factors driving demand for new aircraft include population growth with increasing wealth, dynamic growth in emerging economies, strong continued growth in North America and European markets, greater urbanisation and a more than doubling in the number of mega-cities by 2030.

Drivers also include the ongoing expansion of low-cost carriers, and the need to replace older less efficient aircraft with new eco-efficient models.

Asia-Pacific will account for approximately 34% of demand over the next 20 years, Airbus says.