Airbus kept its 2026 targets despite a larger nine-month cash outflow, preserving its delivery and earnings outlook as its commercial aircraft backlog reached 9,310 planes.
The European planemaker reported €50.645 billion in revenue for January through September, a 6.8% increase from €47.436 billion a year earlier. It delivered 547 commercial aircraft, compared with 507 in the same period of 2025. Commercial aircraft revenue rose 8% to €36.7 billion; Airbus cited delivery volume and services as drivers, with currency effects tempering the increase.
Reported net income increased 36% to €3.587 billion. Earnings per share reached €4.54, compared with €3.34 a year earlier.
Airbus booked 1,174 commercial aircraft orders before cancellations, against 610 a year earlier. After cancellations, net orders totaled 1,105, up from 514. The Sept. 30 backlog stood at 9,310 aircraft and included two A330s previously delivered on operating lease.
Free cash flow before customer financing was negative €1.268 billion for the nine months, compared with negative €914 million a year earlier. Airbus linked most of the cash outflow to working capital, citing inventory growth ahead of a delivery schedule weighted toward year-end and ramp-ups across its businesses.
The company retained its 2026 targets of about 870 commercial aircraft deliveries, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of about €7.5 billion, and free cash flow before customer financing of about €4.5 billion. Airbus said the outlook includes tariffs currently in force and excludes mergers and acquisitions. It also assumes no new disruptions to trade, the economy, air traffic, supply chains, its internal operations or its ability to deliver.
