Airbus, the leading aircraft manufacturer, has released its financial results for the first quarter of 2023. The company delivered 127 commercial aircraft, while gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 156, resulting in a net order of 142 aircraft. Airbus Helicopters registered 39 net orders, while Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake by value was € 2.5 billion. Consolidated revenues decreased slightly to € 11.8 billion, while consolidated EBIT Adjusted decreased to € 773 million. The ramp-up on the A220 and A320 programmes is continuing, and the flight test programme of the A321XLR is progressing. The industrial planning for the A350F variant is slightly adjusted, and the entry-into-service is now slipping into 2026. Development activities continue towards achieving the revised capability roadmap for the A400M programme.
Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said that the Q1 financials confirmed strong demand for Airbus’s products, particularly commercial aircraft. Despite the adverse operating environment, including persistent tensions in the supply chain, the company’s 2023 guidance is unchanged. Commercial aircraft deliveries are expected to be backloaded, and the company remains focused on delivering the commercial aircraft ramp-up and longer-term transformation.
Airbus’s commercial aircraft activities generated revenues that decreased 5% year-on-year, mainly reflecting the lower deliveries, partly offset by the strengthening of the US dollar. The revenues at Airbus Defence and Space decreased 6%, mainly driven by lower volume in Military Air Systems and in Space Systems. However, Airbus Helicopters’ revenues rose 26%, reflecting deliveries and a solid performance across programmes, favourable mix effects, and a good start to the year in services.
The company is ramping up production rates for the A220 and A320 Family programmes and plans to add a second Final Assembly Line in Tianjin to support the production of 75 aircraft per month in 2026. The A321XLR’s flight test programme is progressing well, and its entry-into-service is expected in Q2 2024. Airbus’s industrial planning for the A350F variant is being slightly adjusted, and the entry-into-service is now slipping into 2026.
