On Thursday, July 30, 2026, European industrial group Airbus SE announced in Amsterdam its consolidated financial results for the first half of the year ended June 30. Key figures included 351 commercial aircraft deliveries, revenue of 33.2 billion EUR, adjusted operating profit (EBIT) of 2.7 billion EUR, reported operating profit (EBIT) also of 2.7 billion EUR, earnings per share (EPS) of 2.84 EUR, and free cash flow before customer financing of 1.2 billion EUR. The company’s 2026 guidance remained unchanged.
Photo: Airbus SE
„Our good H1 results mainly reflect the higher level of commercial aircraft deliveries and strong performance in Defence and Space, against the backdrop of a complex and fast-changing environment,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. „We are ramping up across all businesses to meet the growing demand for our civil and military solutions. Our focus on steady execution is paying off, as demonstrated by strong deliveries in Q2. This fuels our confidence in our future performance, as reflected in the recently-communicated mid-term outlook.”
Gross commercial aircraft orders totaled 886 in the first half of 2026, compared with 494 aircraft in the first half of 2025, while net orders after cancellations amounted to 821 aircraft, compared with 402 a year earlier. The commercial aircraft order backlog stood at 9,222 aircraft at the end of June 2026. Airbus Helicopters recorded net orders for 215 helicopters, compared with 171 in the first half of 2025, while its backlog reached 1,108 units at the end of June 2026. Airbus Defence and Space recorded very strong commercial momentum, with order intake reaching 9.3 billion EUR, compared with 5.1 billion EUR in the first half of 2025.
Consolidated revenue increased by 12% year on year to 33.2 billion EUR, compared with 29.6 billion EUR in the first half of 2025. A total of 351 commercial aircraft were delivered, compared with 306 a year earlier, including 44 A220s, 271 A320-family aircraft, 10 A330s, and 26 A350s. Revenue generated by Airbus’s commercial aircraft business increased by 15% to 23.9 billion EUR, mainly reflecting higher deliveries and increased service activity, partly offset by the depreciation of the US dollar compared with the first half of 2025. Airbus Helicopters deliveries increased to 144 helicopters, compared with 138 in the first half of 2025, while revenue remained stable at 3.7 billion EUR, reflecting a less favorable delivery mix in the first half of 2026. Airbus Defence and Space revenue increased by 9% year on year to 6.3 billion EUR, driven by higher volumes across all business units.
Consolidated adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), an alternative performance measure and key indicator reflecting the underlying operating margin by excluding material charges or gains resulting from changes in provisions related to programs, restructuring, or foreign-exchange effects, as well as capital gains or losses from business disposals and acquisitions, totaled 2.727 billion EUR, compared with 2.204 billion EUR in the first half of 2025.
Adjusted EBIT related to Airbus’s commercial aircraft business increased to 1.987 billion EUR, compared with 1.714 billion EUR in the first half of 2025, driven by higher deliveries and partly offset by a less favorable hedge rate.
The A220 production ramp-up is continuing, and the group still expects to reach a monthly production rate of 13 aircraft in 2028. For the A320 family, the group continues to expect a production rate of 70 to 75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027, stabilizing at 75 aircraft per month in subsequent years. The group also continues to target a production rate of five aircraft per month for the A330 program in 2029 and 12 aircraft per month for the A350 program in 2028.
Airbus Helicopters adjusted EBIT totaled 240 million EUR, compared with 249 million EUR in the first half of 2025, reflecting solid program performance offset by higher research and development expenditure.
Airbus Defence and Space adjusted EBIT increased to 487 million EUR, compared with 265 million EUR in the first half of 2025, supported by favorable cost phasing, improved profitability, and higher volumes.
Consolidated self-financed research and development expenditure totaled 1.464 billion EUR, compared with 1.406 billion EUR in the first half of 2025.
Consolidated reported EBIT amounted to 2.745 billion EUR, compared with 1.617 billion EUR in the first half of 2025, including total net adjustments of positive 18 million EUR.
These adjustments included:
- +124 million EUR related to the mismatch in US dollar working capital and balance-sheet revaluation, of which 166 million EUR was recorded in the second quarter. This mainly reflected timing effects resulting from the difference between transaction and delivery dates;
- ‒123 million EUR related to the integration of former Spirit AeroSystems work packages, of which 91 million EUR was recorded in the second quarter;
- +60 million EUR related to the Airbus Defence and Space workforce adaptation plan, of which 46 million EUR was recorded in the second quarter;
- ‒43 million EUR in other costs, including mergers and acquisitions, of which 27 million EUR was recorded in the second quarter.
The financial result amounted to 186 million EUR, compared with 490 million EUR in the first half of 2025, mainly reflecting the revaluation of certain equity investments and interests in venture capital funds managed by Airbus Ventures. This was partly offset by the revaluation of financial instruments and changes in the US dollar exchange rate. Consolidated net income amounted to 2.243 billion EUR, compared with 1.525 billion EUR in the first half of 2025, while consolidated earnings per share reached 2.84 EUR, compared with 1.93 EUR.
Consolidated free cash flow before customer financing amounted to ‒1.166 billion EUR, compared with –1.610 billion EUR in the first half of 2025. The cash outflow was mainly driven by changes in working capital, particularly the planned increase in inventories to support business growth across all operating segments. Consolidated free cash flow totaled ‒1.043 billion EUR, compared with ‒1.584 billion EUR in the first half of 2025. Gross cash stood at 23.4 billion EUR at the end of June 2026, compared with 27.2 billion EUR at the end of 2025, while consolidated net cash amounted to 8.4 billion EUR, compared with 12.2 billion EUR at the end of 2025.
Outlook
The 2026 guidance assumes no additional disruptions to global trade, the global economy, air traffic, the supply chain, internal operations, or the group’s ability to deliver products and services.
The group’s 2026 guidance excludes mergers and acquisitions and incorporates the impact of currently applicable tariffs.
On this basis, the group plans to achieve the following in 2026:
- approximately 870 commercial aircraft deliveries;
- adjusted EBIT of approximately 7.5 billion EUR;
- free cash flow before customer financing of approximately 4.5 billion EUR.
Airbus reports Half-Year (H1) 2026 results ➡️ https://t.co/0M2gERi0vp#AirbusResults pic.twitter.com/J7pI6zzclM
— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) July 29, 2026
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