CHICAGO-Boeing Co. is forecasting a $2.6 trillion commercial airplane market over the next 20 years. The new airplanes will be necessary to accommodate a forecast 4.9 percent annual increase in passenger traffic, and a 6.1 percent annual increase in air cargo traffic.

Specifically, Boeing projects a need for approximately 27,200 new commercial airplanes-both passenger and freighter-doubling the world fleet by 2025. The vast majority of these new airplanes will be in the single-aisle (100-240 seats) and twin-aisle (200-400 seats) categories.

"We're forecasting a continued strong long-term demand for new airplanes over the next 20 years," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Marketing, Randy Baseler. "These airplanes will take people and products where they need to travel, as never before. Improved fuel efficiency and increased range will allow airlines to take more travelers directly where they want to go, when they want to go."

On a delivery-dollar basis, the largest market is projected to be the Asia-Pacific region, with 36 percent of the $2.6 trillion total. North America will make up 28 percent of the delivery dollars and Europe will make up 24 percent. Deliveries to airlines in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa will represent a total of 12 percent of the delivery dollars between 2006 and 2025.