Airbus parent EADS has revealed revenue for the first nine months of 2011 of €32.7 billion ($44.2 billion), a rise of 4% on the same period a year ago.
Strong sales in the commercial segment, notably at Airbus, which saw revenue grow to €21.1 billion, up 3% on 2010's nine month figure of €20.4 billion, helped offset a weakening defence market.
EADS' EBIT stands at €885 million for the nine months, up 13% on the same period a year earlier, while Airbus saw EBIT shrink 7% to €306 million.
Order intake at Airbus ballooned 80% to a huge €85.4 billion for the first nine months of the year, with its total backlog now at €436.4 billion. This comprises 4,216 units, representing more than seven years of full production, said EADS.
At the end of September the airframer had delivered 374 commercial aircraft, including 16 A380s.
Progress on the A350 programme is "advancing" it said, with the start of the final assembly line now pegged for Q1 2012 and entry into service following by H1 2014.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
