Asia Pacific and Middle East airlines to add over 600 widebodies by 2013

The Asia Pacific region is powering ahead as the world's largest market for widebody aircraft, with some 82 widebodies scheduled for delivery to the region's airlines in 2010, jumping to 141 in 2011 and peaking at 148 in 2012, according to the Ascend fleet database. Asia Pacific airlines will take delivery of exactly half of the total widebody aircraft deliveries worldwide over the next three years - well above their current status of operating one third of the world's widebodies. This speaks volumes about the expanding role of Asia Pacific airlines in global long-haul aviation.