Airbus Helicopters highlights growth and innovation in 2024

Airbus Helicopters achieved significant progress in 2024, recording 455 gross orders (net: 450) from 182 customers across 42 countries, demonstrating steady market growth. Delivering 361 helicopters during the year, the company secured a preliminary 57% share of the civil and parapublic market.

The Super Puma programme excelled across civil, parapublic and military markets, with 58 orders from notable customers including Germany's Bundespolizei, the Japan Coast Guard and the defence ministries of the Netherlands and Romania. Enhancements to the NH90 platform were a key focus in 2024, with the launch of the Block 1 upgrade, the beginning of flight testing for France's Special Forces Standard 2 configuration and the delivery of the first Standard 3 configuration to the Spanish Air Force. The H145 and H145M programme welcomed several new defence and security clients, such as the Brunei Air Force, the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Bahraini Police Aviation Command.

Technological advancements marked the year, including the first flight of Racer, which exceeded its speed goal of 407 km/h in only seven flights and the maiden flight of the CityAirbus NextGen in Donauwörth. In the civil market, the H175 completed de-icing flight tests in Canada and Norway, while the H160 continued its global rollout, with more than 30 helicopters now in service.

Airbus Helicopters also celebrated key milestones, including 40 years of operations at its Fort Erie, Canada facility and 50 years in the UK, where a new facility in Oxford was inaugurated. Plans for growth include an H125 assembly line in India in partnership with TATA. The company also advanced its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reaching nearly 20% for test and training flights and expanding SAF usage to its Oxford, UK facility.