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Airbus sees lower demand for single-aisle jets in China due to high-speed rail competition
September 10th 2026
China will need 7,480 single-aisle aircraft in the next 20 years, Airbus stated in its latest market outlook for the country. Read More » The narrowbody figure is almost 500 lower than in the OEM’s prediction from last year, reflecting the stiffening competition from the country’s growing high-speed rail network, as well as changing demographics and economic forecasts. Airbus said the slight reduction in market share for air travel was due to the growth in high-speed rail over shorter distances. The report said high-speed trains had a 10% impact on domestic air travel on routes below six hours. As of the end of 2025, China had a 50,000-kilometer high-speed rail network. The country plans to grow the network to 70,000 kilometers by 2035. Overall, China will need 8,830 aircraft over the next 20 years.
