LCCs: global market share gains led by emerging markets

The global LCC sector has grown at a staggering pace since the beginning of this decade. There are now more than 100 LCCs operating a combined fleet of 6,000 aircraft.

The LCC fleet has doubled in size since the end of 2009, when it consisted of only 2,900 aircraft (source: CAPA Fleet Database). Global LCC seat capacity has also doubled since 2009, reaching nearly 1.7 billion in 2018 (source OAG).

Asia Pacific is now the world's largest LCC market, accounting for nearly 600 million seats, or 35% of the global LCC seats in 2018. The Asia Pacific LCCs have expanded from a fleet of only 400 aircraft at the end of 2009 to 1,900 aircraft currently and are poised for more rapid growth, given their massive order book of 2,400 aircraft.