Airbus Helicopters market share down to 48% in 2020


Airbus Helicopters announced its orders and deliveries for 2020, indicating a 6% drop —to 48% — in its share of the civil and parapublic market. The company showed 289 gross orders (net: 268) and 300 rotorcraft deliveries in 2020.
These are down compared with 2019’s figures, which stood at 369 orders and 332 deliveries ensuring a 54% market share. Leonardo and Bell came in with the second and third largest market shares, at 20% and 18% respectively.
Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO, said: “We certified the five-bladed H145 and the H160 and laid solid foundations for our pursuit of zero-emission technologies with our CityAirbus demonstrator.”
Key deliveries in 2020 included the first five-bladed H145 to launch customer Norsk Luftambulanse, a helicopter emergency medical services operator, followed by deliveries to DRF Luftrettung.
On the heavy side, the first H225Ms were handed over to the Kuwait Air Force as well as the first NH90s for the Spanish Air Force.
Order highlights for 2020 consist of 84 helicopters for the best-selling H145, including 17 UH-72B for the US Army, the first Fenestron and Helionix-equipped versions to be ordered.
The H135 achieved solid sales with 33 units and also received the EASA certification of an alternate gross weight as well as a new single pilot IFR cockpit layout at the end of 2020. Milestone Aviation and Heli-Union both became new customers for the multi-mission H160.
German unified forces Bundeswehr placed an order for 31 NH90 naval helicopters to replace the ageing Sea Lynx fleet due to be retired.
On the customer support and service side, once again there was a strong showing for HCare support contracts, with new customers joining the ranks such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Air Methods Corporation, said the company.
A new AirbusWorld collaborative customer platform was launched based on feedback from customers, offering a streamlined user experience and new functionalities aimed at fostering open dialogue among operators and with the company.
On the VTOL side in 2020, CityAirbus completed its first fully automatic flight. Rotary-wing unmanned aerial system VSR700 performed its first free flight in July and autonomous deck-landing trials at the end of the year.
Airbus Helicopters in 2020 – at a glance
- 48% market share in civil and parapublic markets
- 289 gross orders (net 268)
- 300 rotorcraft deliveries