The global fleet of airfreight planes will double in the next 20 years, according to the most recent forecast from aircraft maker Boeing. In 2005, there were 1,790 freight aircraft in operation, according to Boeing. By 2025, there will be 3,560, with a much greater percentage being widebody and large aircraft.

Nearly 62% of all additions to the fleet will be in the widebody categories, which will result in a fleet-wide increase in average freighter airplane payload. Freighters, as a share of the total airplane fleet, will remain at about 10% during the forecast period.

By 2025, freighters of all sizes will provide more than half of the world’s total air cargo capacity, a slight increase from today.

India is expected to show extremely fast growth and demand for aircraft in that region will explode in step with its exports. Boeing plans to invest $280 million in the market to build aircraft maintenance facilities along with pilot training centers.

A mid-year report from the International Air Transport Association showed air freight growth of 5.2% for the first half of 2006 over the first half of 2005. Regionally, the Middle East had seen the highest growth of 19.3% through the end of June.