- Commercial demand remains robust: Airbus delivered 351 commercial aircraft in the first half of 2026, up from 306 a year earlier, while securing 886 gross orders and 821 net orders. The commercial aircraft backlog expanded to 9,222 aircraft, with Airbus Helicopters and Defence and Space also reporting strong order intake.
- Revenue and earnings post double-digit growth: Consolidated revenue increased 12% year-on-year to €33.2 billion, while adjusted EBIT climbed 24% to €2.7 billion, driven by higher commercial aircraft deliveries and a strong performance from the Defence and Space business.
- Defence and Space delivers standout performance: Airbus Defence and Space recorded a significant improvement in profitability, with adjusted EBIT rising to €487 million on the back of higher production volumes, improved margins and favourable cost phasing.
- Production ramp-up remains on track: Airbus reaffirmed its production roadmap, maintaining plans to increase output across the A220, A320 Family, A330 and A350 programmes as it works to meet sustained global demand despite ongoing supply chain challenges.
- Full-year 2026 guidance unchanged: The manufacturer continues to target around 870 commercial aircraft deliveries, adjusted EBIT of approximately €7.5 billion, and free cash flow before customer financing of around €4.5 billion, reflecting confidence in its operational performance for the remainder of the year.
Airbus has reported a solid first-half financial performance for 2026, buoyed by higher commercial aircraft deliveries, robust order intake and continued strength in its Defence and Space business, while maintaining its full-year production and financial guidance despite persistent supply chain pressures.
The European aircraft manufacturer generated €33.2 billion in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 12% from the same period in 2025. Adjusted EBIT rose 24% to €2.73 billion, while reported net income increased 47% to €2.24 billion, reflecting stronger operational performance across its principal business segments.
The results reinforce Airbus’ position as the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturer at a time when airlines continue to expand fleets to meet sustained passenger demand and prepare for long-term traffic growth.
Deliveries Gather Pace
Airbus delivered 351 commercial aircraft during the first half of 2026, compared with 306 aircraft in the corresponding period last year. The deliveries comprised 44 A220s, 271 A320 Family aircraft, 10 A330s and 26 A350s, helping commercial aircraft revenues climb 15% to €23.9 billion.
Higher deliveries were the principal driver behind the improved financial performance, although the company noted that currency movements, particularly the weaker U.S. dollar, partially offset revenue gains.
For the air cargo industry, the continued ramp-up of widebody programmes, especially the A350, remains significant as airlines increasingly deploy passenger aircraft with substantial lower-deck cargo capacity while evaluating long-term fleet renewal strategies.
Record Order Momentum Strengthens Backlog
Demand for new aircraft remained resilient throughout the first half of the year.
Airbus secured 886 gross commercial aircraft orders, resulting in 821 net orders after cancellations—more than double the level recorded during the same period in 2025. The company’s order backlog expanded to 9,222 aircraft, providing production visibility well into the next decade.
The sizeable backlog underscores continued confidence among airlines despite economic uncertainty, supply chain constraints and geopolitical volatility that continue to influence global aviation markets.
Production Ramp-Up Continues
Although component shortages and industrial bottlenecks remain an industry-wide challenge, Airbus reaffirmed its production roadmap.
The manufacturer continues to target monthly production of 13 A220 aircraft by 2028, while the A320 Family is expected to reach 70–75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027, stabilising thereafter.
Widebody production plans also remain unchanged, with Airbus maintaining targets of 12 A350 aircraft per month in 2028 and five A330s per month by 2029.
Maintaining these production targets is particularly important for suppliers and operators across the aviation value chain, many of whom continue to experience longer lead times and constrained aircraft availability.
Defence and Space Delivers Strong Contribution
While commercial aviation remained the primary earnings driver, Airbus’ Defence and Space division delivered one of the strongest performances within the group.
Revenue increased 9% to €6.3 billion, while adjusted operating profit climbed to €487 million, supported by higher production volumes and improved programme profitability.
Airbus Helicopters reported broadly stable revenues of €3.7 billion, although profitability eased slightly due to increased research and development spending.
The diversified business mix continues to provide Airbus with resilience as defence spending rises across several global markets.
Cash Flow Reflects Production Investment
Free cash flow before customer financing remained negative at €1.17 billion, primarily reflecting planned inventory build-up to support higher production rates across multiple programmes.
Despite the temporary cash outflow, Airbus closed the first half with a gross cash position of €23.4 billion and net cash of €8.4 billion, maintaining significant financial flexibility to support future investment and production expansion.
Guidance Unchanged
Airbus left its full-year outlook unchanged, signalling confidence in meeting production objectives during the second half of the year.
The manufacturer continues to forecast:
- Approximately 870 commercial aircraft deliveries
- Adjusted EBIT of around €7.5 billion
- Free cash flow before customer financing of approximately €4.5 billion
The guidance assumes no further disruption to global trade, supply chains, air traffic or broader economic conditions beyond those already reflected in current operations.
Industry Outlook
The first-half results highlight the continued recovery and expansion of the commercial aerospace market, with airlines maintaining investment in fleet modernisation despite ongoing supply chain constraints. For the air cargo sector, higher aircraft production and sustained demand for widebody platforms are expected to improve fleet availability over the medium term, supporting both passenger and cargo capacity growth.
While operational challenges remain across the global aerospace supply chain, Airbus’ maintained guidance and expanding order book suggest confidence that demand fundamentals remain firmly intact as the industry moves into the second half of 2026.
