Airbus Helicopters posts solid H1 as orders and backlog build

Airbus Helicopters delivered a steady first half of 2026, growing deliveries and order intake while managing a modest dip in profitability driven by higher research and development expenses.

The division delivered 144 helicopters in H1 2026, up from 138 in the same period last year, as production volumes continued to rise across its programmes.

Revenue was broadly stable at €3.7bn, compared with €3.693bn in H1 2025, with the flat top line reflecting a less favourable delivery mix in the period.

EBIT Adjusted came in at €240m, down marginally from €249m in H1 2025. Airbus attributed the decline to higher R&D spending, which offset otherwise solid programme performance.

Airbus’ chief financial officer Thomas Toepfer said the EBIT adjusted for helicopters “stood at €240m, reflecting a solid performance from programs, offset by higher R&D expenses.”

Airbus Helicopters registered net orders of 215 units in H1 2026, up 26% from 171 units in the same period last year.

“During the ILA Berlin Air Show, Airbus Helicopters signed a contract with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania under the European initiative, SAFE, Security Action for Europe. This acquisition for 12 multi-role helicopters includes 7 H160s and 5 H145s,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.

“Earlier this year, two subsidiaries of the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation placed an order for three Airbus H225 helicopters, and it’s important because it supports the ongoing expansion of their oil and gas offshore operations with this helicopter,” he added further.

“Overall, we continue to see good momentum on all our platforms in both the civil and military markets and we remain fully focused on delivering on expectations.”

The order backlog stood at 1,108 units at the end of June 2026, up 20% from 926 units at the same point a year ago.

“Helicopters last year had a very back-end loaded delivery profile. And I mean, without making any too precise of a prediction, I would say the profile will not materially change this year. So, since the delivery profiles are similar, I think that could be a good indication that also the margin trajectory could be relatively similar to last year,” commented Toepfer on margin and delivery expectations for the second half of the year.