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Airbus Sees Continued Growth in Helicopter Sales in 2024
Airbus Helicopters logged 455 gross orders (net: 450) in 2024, highlighting a steady market growth with a strong performance this year for its light twin-engined and heavy helicopters. The orders came from 182 customers in 42 countries. The company delivered 361 helicopters in 2024, resulting in a preliminary 57% share of the civil and parapublic market.
“Airbus Helicopters’ order intake in 2024, with an increase bordering 10% in units for the second year in a row, highlights its stable growth in a complex global environment,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “I would like to thank our customers for continuing to place their trust in Airbus Helicopters in 2024.”
The Super Puma program performed strongly on both the civil and parapublic and military markets with 58 orders thanks to the German Bundespolizei, the Japan Coast Guard, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, and the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. Last year saw the launch of a comprehensive upgrade, known as Block 1, for the NH90 as well as the start of flight testing for France’s Special Forces Standard 2 configuration, and the delivery of the first Standard 3 configuration to the Spanish Air Force. The H145 and H145M program welcomed many new defense and security customers such as the Brunei Air Force, the Belgian Ministry of Defense, the Indonesian Air Force, the Bahraini Police Aviation Command as well as the Irish Ministry of Defense.
“Defense and security is a strategic priority at Airbus Helicopters. We are proud to support our customers with helicopters that enable them to protect and serve their nations, as we saw in 2024 with the U.S. National Guard’s Lakota supporting disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Helene, and the H135 and NH90
26 Jan/Feb 2025
in the flooding in Valencia, Spain. We continue to innovate and expand the mission capabilities that we offer. We integrated Flexrotor into our UAS portfolio, we demonstrated crewed - uncrewed teaming capabilities with the VSR700 and an H130, and we are laying the groundwork for the European Next Generation Rotorcraft through dedicated concept studies,” Even said.
Last year saw the first flight of Racer, and the unique compound helicopter surpassed its 407 KM per hour (253 MPH) objective in just seven flights along with the maiden flight of CityAirbus NextGen in Donauwörth. On the civil and parapublic market, the H175 completed its de-icing flight test campaign in Canada and Norway ahead of certification this year, and the H160 continued its progressive entry into service around the world with more than 30 helicopters now in service.
“Supporting our customers is essential, and our global footprint is a key element to achieving that. We celebrated several milestones in 2024 that attest to that - firstly the 40 years of our facility in Fort Erie, Canada. This proximity will be important for our landmark contract for the 19 H135s that will be delivered to our first Canadian defense customer. Secondly, we marked 50 years of presence in the U.K. and inaugurated a brand new facility in Oxford. We will continue to grow our international footprint with the addition of an H125 final assembly line in India in partnership with TATA,” Even added.
The company also ramped up the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its own development test flights and training flights in Marignane, Albacete, and Donauwörth to nearly 20%, and added the use of SAF at its facility in Oxford, U.K.
Airbus’ 2024 full year financial results were disclosed on Feb. 20, 2025.
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