Airbus’ half-year profits, which were released this week, show the European aerospace giant is continuing strong growth buoyed by some recent large orders for airliners.
The Toulouse-based airframer reported revenue of €27.7 billion for the year (H1) to the 30th of June 2023 which when adjusted for EBIT* totals €2.6 billion.
Commercial aircraft deliveries in the same period totalled 316 aircraft with orders received for 1,080 aircraft. Up from 297 deliveries and 442 orders in the same period last year.
Aircraft delivered in the first half of the year included 25 A220s, 256 A320 Family, 14 A330sand 21 A350s. Airbus Defence and Space also delivered three A400Ms in the same period.
“During the first half of 2023 we progressed well across our businesses in an operational environment that remains complex. Our commercial aircraft are in strong demand, as demonstrated by more than 800 orders announced at the Paris Air Show. This demand is driven both by growth and fleet replacement as airlines invest in more fuel efficient fleets,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “Based on this H1 performance, we maintain our 2023 guidance.”
Airbus says that is continuing to ramp up production on the A220 programme towards a monthly production rate of 14 aircraft by 2025 while the A320 Family programme is moving towards a rate of 75 aircraft per month by 2026.
The new A321 capable final assembly line in Toulouse which was recently opened is the latest milestone in the development of Airbus’ global industrial system.
The A321XLR flight test programme is also progressing well with entry-into-service expected in Q2 next year.
All of this is good news for the UK economy with the wings for all Airbus airliners, excluding the A220 which are built by Spirit Aerosystems in Belfast, and the A400M designed and built in the UK at Airbus’ key sites at Filton and Broughton.
*EBIT – an alternative performance measure and key indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses.
You mention all but A220 wings are built in the UK. You may have overlooked that those are built Spririt Aerospace in Belfast.
A fair comment, the article refers specifically to Airbus but its will be noted.