Only 5% of the world's population has flown on an airplane (as of 2006).

(Worldwatch Institute)

How fast is the global airplane fleet growing?

Only 5% of the world's population has flown on an airplane (as of 2006). (Worldwatch Institute)

The world’s commercial jet fleet is expected to more than double by 2025 — to 36,000 aircraft.

(Boeing)

What is the environmental impact of the world’s airplanes?

Aviation’s share of global carbon dioxide emissions is expected to rise from 2% today to 3% by 2050 — a 50% gain — amid steady economic growth and increasing demand for air travel.

(International Air Transport Association)

Why else are people concerned?

Because planes emit carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen oxides high in the atmosphere, their emissions contribute to climate change at about three times the rate of similar emissions from cars.

(Worldwatch Institute)

Are there restrictions?

The Kyoto Protocol does not set restrictions on carbon dioxide emitted by airplanes — even though planes emit 600 million tons of carbon dioxide yearly.

(Worldwatch Institute)

Since Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in the mid-1990s, there have been only two aircraft companies — Europe's Airbus being the other — that are capable of building commercial jets with over 100 seats. (The Economist)

Which companies dominate the airplane business?

Since Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in the mid-1990s, there have been only two aircraft companies — Europe's Airbus being the other — that are capable of building commercial jets with over 100 seats.

(The Economist)

Are there smaller players?

Until its privatization in 1994, Brazil-based Embraer was a sluggish state company. Now it is the world's fourth-largest aircraft manufacturer — holding an estimated 40% share of the world's regional jet market (as of 2004).

(Financial Times)

Who are the leading buyers of new aircraft?

U.S. airlines are expected to spend $538.1 billion on new passenger aircraft by 2025. In comparison, China is expected to spend $349.3 billion, the United Kingdom $145.9 billion, Japan $117.8 billion, Germany $108.7 billion — and India $100.9 billion.

(Airbus)

How quickly will China’s fleet grow?

By 2025, the number of passenger aircraft in China will more than triple — growing from 758 to 2,666.

(Airbus)

Which manufacturer has an edge in the Chinese market?

In order to earn enough money to buy one Airbus A380 airplane, China has to sell the equivalent of 800 million shirts. (Financial Times)

Boeing entered the Chinese market in 1972 — 13 years ahead of Airbus. As of 2007, Chinese airlines were flying 560 Boeing plane, compared with 316 Airbuses — giving Boeing a 64% market share.

(Bloomberg)

But is a new competitor waiting in the wings?

In March 2007, China's government announced that it would begin production of its own large commercial aircraft by 2020.

(Financial Times)

What does a new plane cost the Chinese?

In order to earn enough money to buy one Airbus A380 airplane, China has to sell the equivalent of 800 million shirts.

(Financial Times)

How is China’s influence symbolically felt in the aircraft industry?

In January 2005, as China signed an order for 60 new Boeing aircraft, the company renamed its new 7E7 Dreamliner the 787 Dreamliner in recognition of the significance of the number eight in Asian culture.

(Washington Post)

What’s new about the 787?

The new Boeing 787 plane will be the first aircraft in the world with a composite fuselage. Composite is made of wax and carbon fibers — and is both lighter and stronger than aluminum.

(International Herald Tribune)

The Airbus A380 contains about 500 kilometers (310 miles) of wiring. (Bloomberg)

And how are composites helping Airbus to limit the environmental impact of its A380 superjumbo?

Upon entering airline service, the Airbus A380 will be the first long-haul aircraft to consume less than three liters of fuel per passenger over 100 kilometers — a fuel burn rate comparable to the best performing small turbo-diesel cars.

(Airbus)

Just how big is the A380?

The Airbus A380 jetliner is so large that it will take almost one hour for its maximum load of 853 passengers to board — but in an emergency, all passengers must be able to escape within 90 seconds.

(Wall Street Journal)

What is one measure of the complexity of the world’s largest aircraft?

The Airbus A380 contains about 500 kilometers (310 miles) of wiring.

(Bloomberg)

And what is a new reality in aircraft manufacturing?

Just outside the Chinese city of Xian, Chinese tradesmen who earn as little as $100 a month are employed in a modern steel workshop making wing boxes for the Airbus A320 passenger plane. The wing box, which is the main part of the wing, minus the flaps and internal electronics, is one of the A320's most sophisticated parts.

(Bloomberg)

By 2025, the number of passenger aircraft in China will more than triple — growing from 758 to 2,666. (Airbus)

How long do buyers have to wait for a new plane nowadays?

The production of airplanes at Boeing and Airbus, the world's leading aircraft makers, is largely sold out until 2011.

(Wall Street Journal)

And finally, what goes into a modern airplane?

Passenger airplanes have four million parts.

(Boeing)