Boeing eyes Booming Southeast Asian Skies

Southeast Asia offered the biggest growth potential for global air travel, Boeing said on Wednesday as it forecast demand for almost 5,000 new aircraft in the region over the next 20 years.

. Darren Hulst, Boeing, Vice President of Commercial Marketing said  "Some of the key drivers: the growing populations, but more importantly, the demographics of that population in terms of both age and wealth. The size of the middle class in Southeast Asia will more than double over the course of the next 20 years, which is a key indicator of growth for demand for air travel. And I think that's a great base from which to grow from when we think about demand for air travel."

Boeing on Tuesday signed a deal with Air Cambodia for 10 "narrowbody" 737 Max 8 passenger liners, the deal first to be announced at this year's Singapore Airshow.