Airbus records continued growth in helicopter sales in 2024

Airbus Helicopters recorded 455 gross (net: 450) orders in 2024, underscoring steady market growth with excellent performance this year for its light, light twin-engine, and heavy helicopters. Orders were placed by 182 customers in 42 countries. The company delivered 361 helicopters in 2024, achieving a preliminary 57 percent share of the civil and parapublic market.
“Airbus Helicopters’ orders in 2024, up close to 10 percent in terms of units for the second year in a row, highlight stable growth in a complex global environment,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “I would like to thank our customers for continuing to put their trust in Airbus Helicopters in 2024,” he added.

The Super Puma program performed well in both the civil and parastatal and military markets, with 58 orders coming from the German Bundespolizei, the Japanese Coast Guard, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, and the Ministry of National Defense of Romania. The year 2024 saw the launch of a major upgrade for the NH90, called Block 1, the start of flight tests for the Standard 2 configuration for the French Special Forces, and the delivery of the first Standard 3 configuration to the Spanish Air Force.

The H145 and H145M program has seen the entry of new defense and security customers, including the Brunei Air Force, the Belgian Ministry of Defense, the Indonesian Air Force, the Bahrain Police Aviation Command, and the Irish Ministry of Defense.
“Defense and security is a strategic priority for Airbus Helicopters. We are proud to support our customers with helicopters that enable them to protect and serve their nations. This was evident in 2024, with the U.S. National Guard’s Lakota providing support in relief efforts after Hurricane Helene, as well as the H135 and NH90 deployed during flooding in Valencia, Spain. We continue to innovate and expand our operational capability offerings: we have integrated Flexrotor into our UAS portfolio, demonstrated teaming capabilities between equipped and unequipped with the VSR700 and an H130, and are laying the groundwork for the next generation of European helicopters through dedicated studies,” Even continued.

2024 marked the first flight of the Racer, the only compound helicopter to exceed the 407 km/h target in just seven flights, along with the first flight of the CityAirbus NextGen in Donauwörth. In the civil and parastatal markets, the H175 has completed its de-icing test campaign in Canada and Norway in preparation for certification later this year, while the H160 has continued its progressive entry into service worldwide, with more than 30 helicopters already operational.

“Supporting our customers is essential, and our global presence is a key element in achieving this goal. In 2024, we celebrated several milestones that demonstrate this: first, the 40th anniversary of our facility in Fort Erie, Canada. A key proximity, given the historic contract signed with Canada’s first defense customer for 19 H135s. Second, we celebrated 50 years in the UK and opened a new facility in Oxford. We will continue to grow internationally with the addition of a final assembly line for the H125 in India in partnership with TATA,” Even said.

The company has also increased its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its development and training flights in Marignane, Albacete, and Donauwörth to nearly 20 percent, and has also introduced the use of SAF at its plant in Oxford, UK.

Airbus’ full 2024 financial results will be released on February 20, 2025.

Sources and images

• Airbus Press Release