The group also hopes to increase its earnings per share and dividends.
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Airbus’s earnings before interest and taxes excluding some one-time items, a closely watched benchmark, advanced 15% to €1.2 billion in the second quarter.
Airbus Group’s net profits shot up 34 per cent in the first half of the year to €1.5 billion, boosted by the sale of its stake in fighter jet maker Dassault Aviation, the European aeronautics giant said today.
“We continue to see healthy commercial momentum across the portfolio as shown by the major contracts announced at June’s Paris Air Show”, Chief Executive Tom Enders said, adding “we are focused on operational priorities, including A350 and A400M ramp-up, cost control and deliveries plus the A320neo transition, as we strive to further enhance profits and cash”.
The group took a charge of €290 million from the Airbus A400M military transporter programme, due to a test flight crash near the Spanish city of Seville in May, which killed four people.
Airbus shares rose 3.8 percent to 64.80 euros in morning trading in Europe.
Reuters reported on Thursday that the accident had led to new development delays of up to three months.
The company said Friday it was working with customers to agree on a new schedule for deliveries.
Airbus has told buyer nations that not all the systems for protecting the plane from external threats and other military features will be available when they are needed, and in some cases not at all, defence sources say. He said the company was focusing on stepping up production of the A400M and its A350 wide-body passenger jet.
Airbus has struggled with development and production of the A400M program, which has caused the project to be years late and cost billions of dollars more than expected.
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Airbus Group shrugged off difficulties in the oil and gas sector noted by rival helicopter makers as revenue at the company’s helicopter unit rose 5 percent in the first half.
