Airbus orders and deliveries fell in 2019, revenues stable
Airbus Helicopters saw orders and deliveries fall in 2019, but the decline didn’t impact overall revenues, which saw a slight increase year-on-year (YoY).
The French manufacturer netted 310 separate orders in 2019, a 19% drop-off from the 381 it secured in 2018. The gross number of helicopters ordered was 369, down from 413 in 2019.
Revenues were not affected due, in part, to an increase in orders of larger helicopters. Whilst 32 less light single-engine H125s were ordered in 2019 YoY, five more light-intermediate H130s and four more twin-engine H135s were ordered. The largest increase in orders came from the Super Puma, with 29 ordered in 2019 up from 17 in 2018. The H125 and H145 remain the most popular models, with 130 and 91 orders respectively in 2019.
The French manufacturer also noted that it managed to solidify its position in the military market, securing an order for 23 NH90s from the Spanish Government to replace its Chinook fleet. It also sold 25 of the 29 Super Pumas to military customers – predominantly in Hungary and Indonesia.
’Challenging civil and parapublic markets’
Bruno Even, CEO, Airbus Helicopters, said: “The increased contribution from support and services and key wins in the military sector in 2019 underlines the importance of our robust business model. The balance between our different revenue streams enables us to maintain our global leadership in a challenging civil and parapublic market.
“Our customers place their trust in our solutions and our goal is to keep providing them with improved products and services that keep them flying.”
Following the trend of the past few years, deliveries fell to 332 in 2019. This follows on from an almost-10% YoY drop-off in in 2018, where Airbus delivered 356 rotorcraft compared to 409 in 2017.
Deliveries are dropping across the market as operators are delaying or cancelling new aircraft due to an excess of helicopters on the ground.
Airbus Highlights – 2019:
- Airbus marked the delivery of its 1000th Super Puma
- Introduced a five-bladed H145 variant
- Announced a power increase to the H125
- Alternate gross weight variant of the H135
- Increased fuel efficiency of upcoming H160
- French armed forces select H160M for its light helicopter programme
- CityAirbus eVTOL takes first flight
- VSR700 military UAS takes first flight
