Airbus Helicopter Orders Down as Civil Market Remains Difficult

   By Robert Wall 
 

PARIS--Airbus Helicopters delivered fewer helicopters last year and also suffered a decline in order bookings as the world's largest rotorcraft maker focused on transforming the business and addressing technical problems with one of its models.

The unit of Airbus Group NV (AIR.FR) shipped 471 helicopters in 2014, compared with 497 in the previous year, the company said in a statement.

Order bookings retreated for a second year to 402 net bookings after falling 10% to 422 deals signed in 2013. The helicopter maker also said that orders for 33 military NH90 transport helicopters were cancelled last year.

Airbus Helicopters president Guillaume Faury said securing bookings will be a priority this year. He added there are good prospects for military deals over the coming months. Poland and South Korea are among the countries looking at rotorcraft purchases for their armed forces.

The company expects deliveries this year to roughly match last year's level, though with a shift to larger, more lucrative models, Mr. Faury said. Order bookings should surpass deliveries, he told reporters.

The upturn in activity from military customers comes as the civil market remains under pressure. Mr. Faury also said spending cuts in the oil and gas sector could also impact business.

Russian sanctions also are impacting the delivery of some EC175 helicopters to a Russian customer, he said.

Looking forward, Mr. Faury said 2015 should be a period of stabilization across our industry and that the unit would focus on boosting competitiveness. The company also continues to work on new models and this year plans to fly the X4, a prototype for a new family of helicopters.

-Write to Robert Wall at [e-mail]

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