Engineering news
Airbus has reported a 34% increase in net profit to €1.52 billion (£1 billion) for the first half of the year.
The company said that revenue increased by 6% to €28.9 billion in the six month period.
Airbus said its order intake in the first six months of 2015 increased sharply to €53.9 billion from €27.7 billion a year earlier.
The company received 348 commercial aircraft orders in the first half of the year, compared with 290 orders a year earlier, including 57 A330 Family aircraft. The company said 421 firm orders and commitments were announced during the Paris Air Show. Airbus Helicopters received 135 net orders, down from 148 units in the same period a year earlier, including 29 H175s.
Order intake by value rose 40% at Airbus Defence and Space, the company reported, with strong momentum seen across business lines including additional Earth observation satellites and A330 MRTTs.
Its Defence and Space division reported a €26 million loss, compared with a profit of €223 million in the same period a year earlier, while revenues remained flat at €5.53 billion, compared with €5.51 billion a year earlier. Airbus recorded a €290 million charge relating to its A400M programme, following the crash of the military craft on a test flight in May. The company said it has worked with all its partners to resume flights and deliveries.
Meanwhile, its Commercial Aircraft division posted a 5% increase in pre-tax earnings to €1.4 billion on revenues €21.1 billion, an increase of 9% on the same period of 2014.
Airbus' helicopters business unit recorded an 8% rise in pre-tax earning to €162 million, while it posted a 5% rise in revenue to €3 billion for the six month period.
The company's research and development expenditure fell 4% to €1.5 billion.
Tom Enders, Airbus Group chief executive, said: “The half-year underlying results reflect our continued focus on programme execution and operational efficiency. Revenues, profitability and cash generation all improved, and the overall financial performance means we are on track to deliver our 2015 guidance.
“We continue to see healthy commercial momentum across the portfolio as shown by the major contracts announced at June’s Paris Air Show. We are focused on operational priorities, including A350 and A400M ramp-up, cost control and deliveries plus the A320neo transition, as we strive to further enhance profits and cash,” he added.