Market Trends of japan aviation Industry
Ease of restrictions and rising passenger travel driving demand
- The strategic location of Japan in the Asia-Pacific region makes it a popular destination for international travel and tourism. The demand for air travel within Japan and to international destinations continues to grow, driven by factors such as rising incomes, increased tourism, and global business interactions. In 2022, 122 million air passengers traveled through Japan, compared to 51 million in 2020. The growth between 2022 and 2020 was 139%. The growth remained the same between 2022 and 2021.
- In 2019, 37 Japanese airports had international routes. However, in 2022, this number fell to just 17. International traffic has also become more concentrated in fewer airports, partly as a result of the Japanese government’s decision to allow international access to Japan through just a small number of airports during the COVID-19 pandemic and partly because many of the international routes that operated from regional airports in Japan served regional markets in China and South Korea, which are not yet back to pre-pandemic operations.
- The drop in travel demand and the associated losses faced by major airlines resulted in airlines deferring their expected aircraft deliveries and restructuring their existing fleet by retiring a few aircraft models early. For instance, Japan Airlines Co.'s national Carrier is looking to replace its older Boeing Co. 737 short-haul fleet with modern and fuel-efficient aircraft models. The airline has a fleet of 45 Boeing 737 jets with an average age of about 12.5 years. The airline is expected to choose between the 737 Max range and Airbus SE's rival A320neo to replace the aging fleet, with an expected order of 30 and 50 narrow-body jets.
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Geopolitical threats is driving the growth of defense expenditure in Japan
- Japan is ranked sixth globally in overall military power after the United States, Russia, China, and India. The country's defense budget ranked tenth in the 2022 ranking of 140 countries. In 2022, Japan allocated USD 46.0 billion to its military, up by 5.9% from 2021. The country is in the middle of a significant shift in policy, which had previously capped military spending at 1.0% of GDP. Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy aims to increase spending on security, which includes funding for the military, to up to 2.0% of GDP by 2027. The planned increase is largely in response to Japan’s perception of growing threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. At 1.1% of GDP in 2022, Japan’s military burden surpassed 1.0% for the third consecutive year and was at its highest level since 1960.
- In the face of rising Chinese aggression, and as a stakeholder in almost all disputes involving the South and East China seas, the need for Japan to procure military aircraft has increased significantly. On this note, in the fixed-wing aircraft segment, Japan ordered a mass procurement contract worth USD 23.11 billion with Lockheed Martin for 105 F-35 combat aircraft, which includes 63 F-35A and 42 F-35B under the sixth-generation stealth fight aircraft program, popularly known as F-X or F-3. In addition, the country placed an order with Bell Helicopters for 150 Bell and 412 UH-X transport helicopters in the military rotorcraft segment. Till 2021, three helicopters were delivered, and the remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2039. These multi-purpose helicopters are ordered to replace Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force's (JGSDF) current fleet of UH-1J aircraft.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Ease of restrictions and rising passenger travel driving demand
- Economic growth is expected to support the market
- The inflation may hinder air travelers, but economic growth may have a positive effect
- The rising HNWI population is driving the growth of the business jets market in Japan
- Rising e-commerce industry driving the growth of the market
- Rising air passenger travel is expected to aid the growth of the market in Japan
- Fleet modernization and rising modern warfare as driving factors
