Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace and defence company that designs and manufactures commercial aircraft, helicopters, military aircraft, satellites and other aerospace systems. The company is legally registered in the Netherlands, with its registered office in Leiden, while its principal operating headquarters are in the Toulouse area of France.[1] Airbus describes itself as Europe's largest aeronautics and space company and operates in the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defence, security and space sectors.[2]
The present corporate group was formed in July 2000 as the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) through the merger of France's Aérospatiale-Matra, Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Spain's Construcciones Aeronáuticas (CASA).[3] The company was renamed Airbus Group in 2014 and adopted the legal name Airbus SE in 2017.[4] Its earlier commercial-aircraft heritage dates to the European Airbus consortium formally launched in 1970.[5]
Airbus is organised around three principal operating segments: Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space.[6] Its commercial aircraft range includes the A220, A320, A330 and A350 families, while the company continues to support the out-of-production A380 fleet.[7]
For the 2025 financial year, Airbus reported revenue of €73.420 billion, net income of €5.221 billion and a workforce of 165,294 employees. It delivered 793 commercial aircraft during the year.[6]
History
Origins of Airbus commercial aviation
Airbus emerged from efforts by European aerospace manufacturers and governments during the 1960s to create a commercial aircraft programme capable of competing internationally. Airbus was formally launched on 18 December 1970 as a European industrial collaboration.[5] Its first aircraft programme was the Airbus A300, which was designed as a twin-engined wide-body airliner.
The first A300B1 made its maiden flight from Toulouse on 28 October 1972. Airbus describes it as the world's first twin-engined wide-body commercial aircraft.[8] The A300 was followed by the A310 and later by a broader range of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.
The Airbus A320 programme became an important step in the company's development. The first A320 flew on 22 February 1987, and the aircraft introduced full digital fly-by-wire flight controls to commercial airliners.[9] The design became the basis of the wider A320 family, including the A319, A320 and A321 and their later neo variants.
Formation of EADS
On 10 July 2000, Aérospatiale-Matra of France, DASA of Germany and CASA of Spain were combined to form EADS. The new company was simultaneously listed in France, Germany and Spain and initially employed about 90,000 people, with annual revenue of approximately €24 billion.[3]
The commercial-aircraft Airbus operation, which had previously functioned through a consortium structure, was reorganised as a company in 2001. EADS later acquired BAE Systems' remaining minority interest in the Airbus commercial-aircraft business in 2006, making it fully controlled by EADS.[3]
Airbus Group and Airbus SE
EADS was renamed Airbus Group in January 2014. As part of the restructuring, the company's defence, space and military transport activities were brought together, while Eurocopter became Airbus Helicopters.[3]
In 2016, Airbus announced plans to integrate the group structure more closely with its Commercial Aircraft division. The company began operating under the single Airbus brand in January 2017, and shareholders formally approved the legal name Airbus SE on 12 April 2017.[10] The organisational integration of Airbus and its commercial aircraft division took effect on 1 July 2017.[11]
A220 acquisition and expansion
In 2017, Airbus agreed with Bombardier and Investissement Québec to become the majority partner in the Bombardier C Series aircraft programme. The transaction closed on 1 July 2018, giving Airbus a 50.01% interest in the programme at that time.[12]
The CS100 and CS300 were subsequently renamed the Airbus A220-100 and A220-300. Airbus formally unveiled the A220 branding in July 2018.[13] Bombardier later exited the partnership, and by the end of 2025 Airbus held 75% of Airbus Canada Limited Partnership while Investissement Québec held 25%.[14]
A380 programme
The Airbus A380, a four-engined double-deck wide-body aircraft, became one of Airbus's most prominent aircraft programmes. In February 2019, Airbus announced that it would cease A380 deliveries in 2021 after Emirates reduced its order book and the manufacturer lacked sufficient additional orders to sustain production.[15]
The final A380 was delivered to Emirates on 16 December 2021. It was the 251st A380 delivered by Airbus.[16] Airbus has continued to provide technical support and services for A380 operators.[7]
Operations
Airbus operates a global network of more than 180 sites and conducts activities in commercial aviation, helicopters, defence, space and related services.[2] Its legal registered office is in Leiden, while the company's principal headquarters and a major concentration of engineering, production and management functions are located around Toulouse and Blagnac in France.[1]
Commercial Aircraft
Commercial Aircraft is Airbus's largest business by revenue. Its current passenger-aircraft portfolio consists primarily of the A220, A320, A330 and A350 families.[7] Airbus also develops freighter aircraft and provides maintenance, training, engineering, digital and fleet-support services to aircraft operators.
The A220 covers the smaller single-aisle market. Originally developed by Bombardier as the C Series, the programme became part of Airbus in 2018. By 2026 the A220 family had accumulated more than 1,100 orders and more than 500 deliveries.[17]
The A320 family is Airbus's principal single-aisle aircraft family. Airbus reported more than 20,100 total family orders and more than 12,600 deliveries by 2026.[9] The current A320neo generation includes the A319neo, A320neo, A321neo and long-range A321XLR.
The company's principal current wide-body programmes are the A330neo and A350. Airbus also develops the A350F freighter based on the A350 platform.[18]
Airbus has commercial-aircraft final assembly activities in Toulouse in France, Hamburg in Germany, Mobile in the United States, Tianjin in China and Mirabel in Canada, with individual sites assigned to different aircraft families.[7]
Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters develops and manufactures civil and military rotorcraft. Its civil range includes the H125, H130, H135, H140, H145, H160, H175, H215 and H225.[19] Military products include models and variants such as the H145M, H160M and H225M, as well as the Tiger and NH90 programmes.[20]
Airbus Helicopters reported revenue of €8.972 billion in 2025 and delivered 392 helicopters during the year.[6]
Defence and Space
Airbus Defence and Space produces military aircraft, satellites, space systems, secure communications and other defence and security products and services.[21] Its aircraft activities include programmes such as the A400M military transport aircraft, A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport and C295, and it participates in the Eurofighter programme.
The division is also active in telecommunications and Earth-observation satellites, space exploration, intelligence, surveillance, cybersecurity and related services. Airbus Defence and Space recorded revenue of €13.405 billion in 2025.[6]
Corporate affairs
Legal structure and stock listings
Airbus SE is a European public limited-liability company, or Societas Europaea, incorporated under Dutch law. Its registered seat is in the Netherlands.[22]
Airbus shares have been publicly traded since 10 July 2000. The shares are listed in Paris and Frankfurt and on the Spanish stock exchanges in Madrid, Bilbao, Barcelona and Valencia under the stock symbol AIR. The company's ISIN is NL0000235190.[4]
Ownership
As of 31 December 2025, the French government held 10.83% of Airbus through SOGEPA, the German government held 10.82% through GZBV, and the Spanish government held 4.08% through SEPI. Approximately 74.27% of outstanding shares were held by the public, including employee holdings, while Airbus held approximately 0.64% of its own issued shares.[23]
Leadership
As of September 2026, Guillaume Faury was chief executive officer of Airbus SE and René Obermann was chair of its board of directors.[24] Airbus announced at its April 2026 annual general meeting that Obermann would step down as chair on 1 October 2026 and that Amparo Moraleda had been designated to succeed him.[25]
The company's executive leadership also includes the heads of Commercial Aircraft, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space, as well as senior executives responsible for finance, human resources, operations, strategy and other corporate functions.[26]
Financial information
Airbus reported consolidated revenue of €73.420 billion in 2025, compared with €69.230 billion in 2024. Reported EBIT was €6.082 billion, adjusted EBIT was €7.128 billion and net income was €5.221 billion.[6] The company spent €3.153 billion on research and development during the year.[6]
Commercial Aircraft generated €52.577 billion of 2025 revenue, Airbus Helicopters generated €8.972 billion and Airbus Defence and Space generated €13.405 billion before inter-segment eliminations.[6]
Airbus received 889 net commercial-aircraft orders in 2025 and ended the year with an aircraft order backlog of 8,754 units. It delivered 793 commercial aircraft, comprising 93 A220s, 607 A320-family aircraft, 36 A330s and 57 A350s.[6] Reuters reported that the 793 deliveries represented a 4% increase from 2024 and allowed Airbus to remain ahead of Boeing in annual commercial-aircraft deliveries in 2025.[27]
For the first half of 2026, Airbus reported revenue of €33.2 billion, adjusted EBIT of €2.7 billion and 351 commercial-aircraft deliveries. It recorded 821 net commercial-aircraft orders during the period.[28]
Competition and market position
Airbus and Boeing are the two principal manufacturers in the global market for large commercial jetliners. In 2025, Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft compared with Boeing's 600. Boeing recorded 1,075 net aircraft orders for the year, while Airbus recorded 889.[29]
Airbus competes across several other aerospace markets through its helicopter, military aircraft, satellite, space and defence businesses. Its commercial aircraft backlog and production system extend across Europe, North America and Asia.[2][7]
Compliance and legal matters
In January 2020, Airbus reached coordinated settlements with authorities in the United States, France and the United Kingdom concerning foreign bribery and U.S. arms-export-control violations. The United States Department of Justice said Airbus agreed to pay combined global penalties of more than US$3.9 billion under the resolutions.[30]
The U.S. proceedings involved a deferred prosecution agreement concerning conspiracy charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The resolution also involved proceedings conducted by France's Parquet National Financier and the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office.[30] Airbus agreed to continue cooperating with investigations and to enhance its compliance programme as part of the U.S. agreement.[30]
Research and technology
Airbus conducts research in aircraft structures, propulsion, aerodynamics, digital systems, automation and lower-emission aviation technologies. The company reported €3.153 billion of research and development expenditure in 2025.[6]
Airbus has introduced successive generations of aircraft with technologies including digital fly-by-wire flight controls, composite structures and new-generation engines. The A320 became the first commercial aircraft to use full digital fly-by-wire controls when the type entered the Airbus product range in the 1980s.[9] Current Airbus passenger aircraft are certified to operate using blends containing up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel, according to the company.[7]
Did you know about Airbus?
- Airbus's first commercial aircraft, the A300, made its first flight in 1972 and was the world's first twin-engined wide-body commercial aircraft.[8]
- The company now known as Airbus SE was formed in 2000 under the name EADS and did not adopt the Airbus SE legal name until 2017.[4]
- The A320 family had accumulated more than 20,100 orders and more than 12,600 deliveries by 2026.[9]
- Airbus delivered 251 A380 aircraft in total, with the final aircraft handed to Emirates in December 2021.[16]
- Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, including 607 aircraft from the A320 family.[6]
- Airbus employed 165,294 people at the end of 2025.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Contact us". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "About us". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "A daring vision takes flight: 25 years of Airbus as an integrated company". Airbus. July 2025. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Airbus jetliners: A standard-setting history". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 "Airbus reports Full-Year (FY) 2025 results". Airbus. 19 February 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Passenger aircraft". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "28 October, 50th Anniversary of the first flight of the Airbus A300". Airbus. 28 October 2022. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "A320 Family: a story of continuous innovation". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus shareholders approve all resolutions at 2017 AGM". Airbus. 12 April 2017. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Flying as one: Fully integrated Airbus takes off". Airbus. 3 July 2017. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus' majority stake in C Series partnership with Bombardier and Investissement Québec comes into effect". Airbus. 1 July 2018. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus introduces the A220-100 and A220-300". Airbus. 10 July 2018. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus SE Report of the Board of Directors FY 2025". Airbus. February 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus and Emirates reach agreement on A380 fleet, sign new widebody orders". Airbus. 14 February 2019. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "The A380, Emirates and flying public: A winning combination". Airbus. 16 December 2021. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus A220 Family: comfort and efficiency". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Aircraft". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Civil helicopters". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Military helicopters". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Products and services". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Description of Airbus". Airbus. March 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus SE Report of the Board of Directors FY 2025". Airbus. February 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Board and Board Committees". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus announces results of 2026 AGM". Airbus. 14 April 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Executive and Operational Committees". Airbus. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus jetliner deliveries rose 4% in 2025". Reuters. 12 January 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Airbus reports Half-Year (H1) 2026 results". Airbus. 29 July 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "Boeing turnaround takes hold with highest annual jet deliveries since 2018". Reuters. 13 January 2026. Accessed 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Airbus Agrees to Pay over $3.9 Billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Foreign Bribery and ITAR Case". United States Department of Justice. 31 January 2020. Accessed 27 September 2026.