Airbus profits up 22% year on year
Airbus has reported a revenue of €44.5 billion for the first nine months of 2024, with “strong demand” across its product range bolstered by “a solid performance in helicopters”.
Gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 667 during the period (significantly down from the 1,280 registered this time last year), resulting in a current order backlog of 8,749. 497 commercial aircraft were delivered during the nine months (slightly up on 9m 2023’s 288), with Airbus remaining bullish it will achieve “about 700” commercial aircraft deliveries by the end of the year. (This implies a range of plus or minus 20 aircraft, with Airbus clarifying that it delivered 735 total units against a guidance of around 720 last year).
Revenues across all of Airbus’ business segments saw positive growth during the period, with Airbus Defence and Space seeing a 7% growth, followed by Airbus Helicopters (up 5%). In particular, Airbus Helicopters registered 308 net orders (up from 9m 2023’s 191 units). Including 43 helicopters from the Super Puma family. In total, the business segment delivered 190 units during the period, marginally down from the 197 delivered in the first nine months of 2023.
However, although Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury remains focused on priorities described as “ramping up commercial aircraft deliveries and transforming [Airbus’] Defence and Space division,” the company is “constantly adapting to a complex and fast-changing operating environment”. These challenges include “geopolitical uncertainties and specific supply chain challenges that have materialised in the course of 2024,”
Nevertheless, Airbus stated it is “actively managing specific supply chain challenges that may have an impact on the [A350’s] programme ramp-up trajectory, in particular in 2025,” as it targets an output of 12 a month by 2028. The A220 programme is also building towards a monthly production rate of 14 aircraft in 2026, with the A320 family continuing to ramp up towards a rate of 75 aircraft a month in 2027. A330 production is now stabilised at around rate four.
