Airbus bullish on jet output as profits override space charge
Airbus doubled down on plans to raise jet output across the board next year, with its top executive reminding engine makers of their commitments in the face of “challenging” supply chains, as jetliner demand led to its third-quarter profit higher.
Airbus said adjusted operating earnings rose 21% to 1.013 billion euros ($1.08 billion) and would have been higher but for a 300 million-euro charge on unidentified satellite programmes, said by sources to include commercial telecoms family OneSat.
Airbus is also girding itself for what looks set to be hard-nosed negotiations with Spirit AeroSystems, after the aerostructures maker secured a price hike from Boeing.
“We are working very closely with them in the spirit of supporting them, but we also expect Spirit to well support Airbus. After all, we are their customer,” Faury said.
