Airbus: orders on the rise, 2026 guidance confirmed

Revenue from commercial activities rose by 8 per cent to €36.7 billion. Growth was driven primarily by an increase in the number of deliveries and the expansion of services, with a partial negative impact resulting from the weakening of the US dollar.

The ability to convert the order book into actual deliveries remains one of the group’s key priorities. Airbus confirms its targets for increasing production across its main aircraft families.

For the A220, the target remains set at 13 aircraft per month in 2028. For the A320 family, the aim is to reach a production rate of between 70 and 75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027, before stabilising at 75. As for wide-body aircraft, the group aims to reach a production rate of 5 for the A330 in 2029 and a rate of 12 for the A350 in 2028.

In terms of earnings, consolidated adjusted EBIT stood at €4.495 billion, compared with €4.146 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Net profit reached 3.587 billion euros, compared with 2.641 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose from 3.34 to 4.54 euros.

At division level, commercial activities generated an adjusted EBIT of 3.362 billion, up 3 per cent. The increase in deliveries only partially offset the rise in research and development expenditure and a less favourable trend in currency hedging.

Airbus Helicopters’ business reported broadly stable revenue of €5.65 billion, but adjusted EBIT fell by 10 per cent to €445 million. The group attributes the decline primarily to a less favourable delivery mix.

Airbus Defence and Space posted even stronger growth. Revenue rose by 5 per cent to €9.34 billion, whilst adjusted EBIT grew by 60 per cent to €672 million. The division benefited from higher volumes and improved profitability across its various business lines. The value of orders secured rose to €11.5 billion, up from €6.8 billion in the same period of 2025.

The main point of focus in the financial statements is cash flow. Free cash flow was negative at €1.268 billion, compared with -€914 million in the first nine months of 2025. Total free cash flow stood at -€1.108 billion, compared with -€778 million a year earlier.

Airbus has confirmed its guidance for the full financial year, aiming to deliver around 870 commercial aircraft in 2026, to achieve an adjusted EBIT of around 7.5 billion euros and to generate free cash flow of around 4.5 billion.

“The results for the first nine months reflect the growth trajectory of our civil and military businesses, underpinned by strong demand for our products across the entire portfolio,” said CEO Guillaume Faury, emphasising that the group remains focused on deliveries and quality in a complex geopolitical and operational environment.

On the US front, rival Boeing has reported production delays and supply chain issues, with CEO Kelly Ortberg stating that the US aircraft manufacturer will not meet its key aircraft production and delivery targets this year. Airbus remains ahead of its US rival in terms of deliveries this year, having delivered 574 aircraft so far in 2026, compared with Boeing’s 475.