Airbus’ Q1 2025 results demonstrate resilience, gross plane orders totaled 280

Aircraft giant, Airbus’ Q1 results demonstrates the progress the company is making on its priorities across the business.

The firm is ramping up production in line with its plan but the delivery profile will be back loaded, reflecting the specific supply chain challenges they are facing this year, said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer.

“We maintain the guidance that excludes tariffs which are adding complexity and remain uncertain in terms of implementation, scope and duration. We are closely monitoring and assessing the situation, but it is too early to quantify the impact today. When it comes to our defence activities, we support the recent approach to strengthen the European defence industry and we stand ready with our broad portfolio of products and solutions to respond to our customers’ requirements.”

Gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 280 (Q1 2024: 170 aircraft) with net orders of 204 aircraft after cancellations (Q1 2024: 170 aircraft).

The order backlog amounted to 8,726 commercial aircraft at the end of March 2025. Airbus Helicopters registered 100 net orders (Q1 2024: 63 units), which were well spread across the product range.

Order intake by value at Airbus Defence and Space increased to € 2.6 billion (Q1 2024: € 2.0 billion), reflecting good momentum across its business lines for both platforms and services.

Consolidated revenues increased 6% year-on-year to € 13.5 billion (Q1 2024: € 12.8 billion). A total of 136 commercial aircraft were delivered (Q1 2024: 142 aircraft), comprising 17 A220s, 106 A320 Family, four A330s and 9 A350s.

Revenues generated by Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities increased 4% to € 9.5 billion, mainly reflecting a more favourable foreign exchange environment which was partially offset by the lower number of deliveries.

Airbus Helicopters’ revenues increased by 10% to € 1.6 billion, reflecting a solid performance from programmes and growth in services.

Helicopter deliveries totalled 51 units (Q1 2024: 50 units). Revenues at Airbus Defence and Space increased 11% year-on-year to € 2.7 billion, driven by higher volumes across its business lines.

Consolidated EBIT Adjusted  – 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 – totalled € 624 million (Q1 2024: € 577 million).

EBIT Adjusted related to Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities was stable at € 494 million (Q1 2024: € 507 million), with the decrease in deliveries offset by the favourable hedge rate and lower R&D expenses.

The A320 Family programme continues to ramp up towards a rate of 75 aircraft per month in 2027.

The Company is stabilising the A330 monthly production rate at around 4. Specific supply chain challenges, notably with Spirit AeroSystems, are currently putting pressure on the ramp up of the A350 and the A220.

The Company continues to target rate 12 for the A350 in 2028 and a monthly A220 production rate of 14 aircraft in 2026.

Airbus Helicopters’ EBIT Adjusted increased to € 78 million (Q1 2024: € 71 million), reflecting the solid performance in programmes and services growth. In March, the new H140 multi-mission helicopter was introduced and received its first orders and commitments.

EBIT Adjusted at Airbus Defence and Space amounted to € 77 million (Q1 2024: € -9 million), reflecting higher volumes and improved profitability mainly for Air Power services and Connected Intelligence. On the A400M programme, the Company remains in constructive discussions with the launch nations and OCCAR on the production plan. In light of uncertainties regarding the level of aircraft orders, Airbus continues to assess the potential impact on the programme’s manufacturing activities. Risks on the qualification of technical capabilities and associated costs remain stable.

Consolidated free cash flow before customer financing was € -310 million (Q1 2024: € -1,791 million), reflecting the planned inventory build up to support the ramp-up and the commercial momentum across the Company. Consolidated  free cash flow totalled € -296 million (Q1 2024: € -1,799 million). The gross cash position  stood at € 26.1 billion at the end of March 2025 (year-end 2024: € 26.9 billion), with a consolidated net cash position  of € 11.0 billion (year-end 2024: € 11.8 billion).

As the basis for its 2025 guidance, the Company excludes the impact of tariffs on its business.

The Company’s 2025 guidance includes the impact of the integration of certain Spirit AeroSystems work packages based on preliminary estimates and an assumed closing in the third quarter of 2025.

The Company assumes no additional disruptions to global trade or the world economy, air traffic, the supply chain, its internal operations and ability to deliver products and services. On that basis, the Company targets to achieve in 2025:

Wole Shadare