SINGAPORE—The growing congestion of the megacities of Asia Pacific will drive a demand for 82,500 advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft across the region by 2050, according to a market study issued jointly by Rolls-Royce and European consultant Roland Berger.
The report was released at the Singapore Airshow, held Feb. 14-18.
It says the region could account for more than half of all electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in worldwide operation and more than 40% of global revenue by 2050. The growth of AAM fleets in Asia-Pacific countries will also generate almost $37 billion of service revenue by mid-century, it says.
Led by a number of initial trials and planned AAM vertiport infrastructure developments already planned for cities like Singapore, Tokyo or Seoul, the report says potential services could be underway well before the end of the decade. It adds the region may be supporting operations of more than 1,000 eVTOLs by 2030.
In particular, the study found that Japan could lead the regional growth in AAM, with an estimated potential fleet of 16,400 passenger-carrying VTOL aircraft in service worth around $14.3 billion in revenue by 2050. Over the same period, South Korea is expected to have the potential to generate revenue of $3.8 billion and Singapore $350 million.
The report evaluated both urban and regional air mobility markets, including city taxi or airport shuttle routes and intercity flights of up to 155 mi. (250 km). It also stressed the importance of the close cooperation that will be needed between government, industry and regulators to bring a viable AAM market to reality.
