Expect to see our skies even more crowded with passenger aircraft numbers set to double in the next 20 years.


Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told Travel Today that forecasts show their fleet increasing from 420 to 920 by 2029 aircraft.


“The fleet will more than double and the value of these aircraft is more than $US120 billion in today’s dollars,” he said.


These figures come as somewhat of a surprise with original growth expected to be just 670 by 2028.


Mr Tinseth said that the revised numbers were due to growing competition in Australia and New Zealand, and added that airlines needed to be innovative to stay ahead of their competitors.


But don't mention battle of the skies to Virgin Blue boss Sir Richard Branson. He has vowed to fight the decision of the regulators not to allow a profit share deal with Delta Airlines, described by Sir Richard as being "patently unfair.”