 | |
 Lagardère production plant inBlagnac, France | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| |
| ISIN | NL0000235190 |
| Industry | |
| Predecessor | Aérospatiale,CASA,DASA,Matra |
| Founded | 18 December 1970; 55 years ago (1970-12-18) |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Revenue |  €69.23 billion[1] (2024) |
| €5.30 billion (2024) | |
| €4.23 billion (2024) | |
| Total assets | €129.21 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | €19.70 billion (2024) |
| Owner | |
Number of employees | 156,921 (2024) |
| Divisions | |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | airbus |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of 31 December 2024[update]. References:[5][6][7] | |
Airbus SE (/ˈɛərbʌs/AIR-buss;French:[ɛʁbys]ⓘ;German:[ˈɛːɐ̯bʊs]ⓘ;Spanish:[ˈejɾβus]) is aEuropean[8]aerospace corporation. While the company's primary business is the design and manufacture of commercial aircraft, it also operates separate divisions forDefence and Space andHelicopters. Airbus has long been the world's leading helicopter manufacturer and, in 2019, emerged as the world's largest manufacturer of airliners.[9][10]
Airbus originated fromAirbus Industrie GIE, aconsortium of European aerospace companies established in 1970 to producea wide-body aircraft to compete with American-built airliners. In 2000, the consortium's parent firms—Aérospatiale-Matra of France,DASA of Germany, andCASA of Spain—merged to form theEuropean Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), which later acquired full ownership of Airbus Industrie. EADSrebranded as Airbus SE in 2015. Reflecting its multinational origins, the company operates offices and assembly plants inFrance,Germany,Spain, and theUnited Kingdom, along with more recent additions inCanada,Malaysia, theUnited States,Morocco, andIndia.[11][12]
Airbus's headquarters are legally registered inLeiden, Netherlands, while day-to-day management is conducted from the company's main office inBlagnac, France.[13] TheSE in its name denotesSocietas Europaea, a public company under European Union corporate law.[14] Airbus is led by CEOGuillaume Faury and is included in theEURO STOXX 50 stock market index.[15] Since its inception in 2000, the company's shares have been listed on theParis,Frankfurt, and four Spanish stock exchanges, including theBolsa de Madrid.[16]
Airbus is the product of several historical forces: the desire of European governments to create an aerospace and defence manufacturer large enough to compete with major American firms; the consolidation of the sector following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the ensuing "peace dividend", which raised concerns that companies could be acquired by non-European firms; and efforts to privatize state-owned companies.
The company traces its origins to the formation of theAirbus Industrie GIE, a consortium of European aerospace companies established in 1970 to produce awide-body aircraft to compete with American-built airliners. France's state-ownedAérospatiale owned 37.9% of Airbus Industrie, West Germany's Deutsche Airbus also owned 37.9%,British Aerospace held 20%, and Spain's largely state-ownedCASA owned 4.2%.
In 2000, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) was established through the merger of Aérospatiale andMatra of France,DASA (the successor to Deutsche Airbus) of Germany, and CASA. EADS held 100% ofEurocopterS.A., established in 1992 and later renamedAirbus Helicopters, along with 80% of Airbus Industrie GIE, which was quickly reorganized asAirbus S.A.S., a simplifiedjoint-stock company. In 2006, EADS acquired the remaining 20% of Airbus S.A.S. fromBAE Systems (the successor of British Aerospace).[17] EADS was renamedAirbus Group N.V. in 2014 andAirbus Group S.E. in 2015.[18][19][20]
Airbus S.A.S. and Airbus Group S.E. were merged in January 2017, and in April 2017 the combined entity adopted the name Airbus SE. Since then, Airbus SE has owned the commercial aircraft manufacturing operations while also serving as the parent company of the other two divisions,Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters.
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The Airbus product line started with theA300 in 1972, the world's firstwide-body,twinjet aircraft. Initial sales were slow, leading to calls to end the Airbus program.[21] However, the aircraft would greatly benefit from the 1976 introduction of theETOPS 90 rule, which allowed twinjet aircraft to operate up to 90 minutes—an increase from 60 minutes—away from thenearest airport. Under the new rule, the A300 was able to operate over theNorth Atlantic, theBay of Bengal, and theIndian Ocean,[22] : 14 making it a more efficient alternative to thetrijets andfour-engined aircraft offered by competitors, leading to renewed airline interest and a sharp increase in sales.[23][24]
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Airbus then developed theA310 to meet demand for a shorter-body but longer-range version of the A300. The aircraft also introduced aglass cockpit, which eliminated the need for aflight engineer, and a redesigned rear fuselage that used space more efficiently, creating additional capacity. The A310 was manufactured from 1981 to 1998. These design changes were later incorporated into the A300, resulting in the A300-600.
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Building on its success with the A300, Airbus developed a narrow-body aircraft that led to the launch of theA320 in 1987, which became and remains a major commercial success. The A320 was the first commercial jet to use a digitalfly-by-wire control system. All Airbus models developed since have adopted cockpit systems similar to the A320, making it easier for crews to transition between aircraft types. The success of the A320 led Airbus to introduce a lengthened version, theA321, in 1993, followed by the shorterA319 in 1995 and the even shorterA318 in 2002. In 2016, Airbus re-engineered the narrow-body family under a programme called theA320neo (new engine option).
Airbus also embarked on an effort to develop new wide-body aircraft derived from the cross-section of the A300, but with greater range and seating capacity and integrating technologies developed from the A320 programme. This effort led to the introduction of the four-engineA340 in 1991 and the twinjetA330 in 1992. At that time, Airbus wanted to offer afour-engined jet aircraft to allow for longertransatlantic andtranspacific flights. However, during the aircraft's development, new rules extended twinjet operations to 120 minutes in 1986 and 180 minutes in 1989. Although these changes hurt sales of the A340, they greatly benefited the A330. Production of the A340 ended in 2011, while the A330 was re-engineered as theA330neo (new engine option) in 2018.
In 2005, Airbus introduced the world's largest passenger airliner: theA380 is a four-engine aircraft with two full-length passenger seating decks. Intended to challenge the dominance of theBoeing 747 in thelong-haul market, the A380 was ultimately a money-losing venture for Airbus due to large development costs and limited sales arising from high operating costs, and production ended in December 2021.
TheA350, a wide-body, twinjet aircraft, was introduced in 2013. The A350 was the first Airbus aircraft that was largely produced fromcarbon-fiber-reinforced polymers. It is longer and wider than the fuselage used on the A300, A310, A330, and A340.
A second narrow-body jet was added to the product list in 2018 when Airbus gained control of theBombardierCSeries programme, and rebranded it as theA220. The jet offers five-abreast seating compared to the six-abreast seating on the A320.
In December 2024, it was reported that the total aircraft delivery in the year for Airbus has reached 643 units, with 84 planes delivered in November 2024 alone.[25] Subsequently, in January 2025, it was reported that Airbus had successfully delivered 766 aircraft to its customers out of 878 orders in the entire 2024, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.[26] In October 2025, the A320 overtook theBoeing 737 as the most delivered airliner.[27]
| Aircraft | Description | Typical seating | 1st flight | Last delivery | Orders | Deliveries | Unfilled | In operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A220 | 2 engines, narrow-body | 100–150[28][29] | 16 September 2013 (as the Bombardier CSeries)[30] | 949 | 482 | 467 | 478 | |
| A300 | 2 engines, wide-body | 228–254 | 28 October 1972[31] | 12 July 2007[32] | 561 | 561 | — | 209 |
| A310 | 2 engines, wide-body | 190-230[33] | 3 April 1982[34] | 15 June 1998[35] | 255 | 255 | — | 47 |
| A320 | 2 engines, narrow-body | 107–185 | 22 February 1987[36] | 19,635 | 12,472 | 7,163 | 11,481 | |
| A330 | 2 engines, wide-body | 246–300 | 2 November 1992[37] | 1,955 | 1,661 | 294 | 1476 | |
| A340 | 4 engines, wide-body | 210–370[38][39][40][41] | 25 October 1991[42] | 16 July 2010[43] | 377 | 377 | — | 180 |
| A350 | 2 engines, wide-body | 300–410[44][45] | 14 June 2013[46] | 1,529 | 699 | 830 | 698 | |
| A380 | 4 engines, wide-body, double deck | 555–853 | 27 April 2005[47] | 16 December 2021[48] | 251 | 251 | — | 215 |
| Data as of 31 December 2025.[49] | ||||||||
Airbus Corporate Jets markets and modifies new aircraft for private and corporate customers. It has a model range that parallels the commercial aircraft offered by the company. Following the entry of the 737-basedBoeing Business Jet, Airbus joined the business jet market with the A319 Corporate Jet in 1997. Although the term Airbus Corporate Jet was initially used only for the A319CJ, it is now often used for all models, including VIP widebodies. As of December 2008, 121 corporate and private jets are operating, and 164 aircraft have been ordered.[50]
The company is also a 10% owner ofDassault Aviation, which builds theFalcon family of smaller business jets.
Airbus Defence and Space markets and either builds or modifies new aircraft for military use. Airbus became increasingly interested in developing and selling to the military aviation market in the late 1990s. It embarked on two main fields of development:aerial refuelling with theAirbus A310 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) and later theAirbus A330 MRTT, andtactical airlift with theAirbus A400M Atlas. The company has also continued to market and assemble some military aircraft previously offered by the companies that formed Airbus, notablyCASA.
The A310 and A330-based MRTT aircraft are conversions of civilian airliners. The aircraft are called multi-role tanker transports because, in addition to their aerial refuelling capability, the aircraft can also be configured for troop transport, medevac, and cargo transportation.
The A400M Atlas is a four-engine,turboprop-powered tactical transport aircraft. The A400M is sized between the American-madeC-130 and theC-17 transports, and while it can carry heavier loads than the C-130, its turboprop engines allow it to retain the ability to use rough landing strips. The A400M was developed for EuropeanNATO members Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, and the UK, as an alternative to relying on foreign aircraft. During development, the A400M programme faced delays and cost overruns;[51][52] with customer nations stepping in to offer additional subsidies.[53][54] The first aircraft was delivered to theFrench Air Force in 2013, and by 2023, more than 100 aircraft had been built.
The Defence and Space division also markets and assembles theEADS CASA C295, a smaller tactical transport aircraft, that was designed and initially manufactured by theSpanish aerospace companyCASA.
The company is also a 50% owner of theArianeGroup joint venture which builds theAriane 5 space launch vehicle, a 46% owner of theEurofighter joint venture which builds theTyphoon fighter jet, a 42.5% owner of thePanavia Aircraft joint venture which built theTornado fighter jet, a 37.5% owner of theMBDA joint venture which builds missiles, and a 10% owner of Dassault Aviation which builds theRafale fighter jet, and previously, theMirage 2000 fighter.
Airbus Helicopters markets and builds newrotorcraft for civilian and military use. The division was founded formed in 1992 as the Eurocopter Group, through the merger of the helicopter divisions ofAérospatiale andDASA (two of the founding companies of Airbus). Airbus Helicopters is the foremost player in the turbine helicopter industry both in terms of revenues and deliveries.
The division's civilian products include the single-engineH125 andH130, the light twin-engineH135 andH145, the medium twin-engineH155 andH160, the super medium twin-engineH175, and the heavy twin-engineH215 andH225.
Military products include theTiger attack helicopter, along with militarised versions of the H125, H135, H145, H160, H175, H215, and H225.
The company is also a 62.5% owner of theNHIndustries joint venture, which builds theNH90 military utility helicopter.
Commercial aircraft generated 74% of total revenue for the Airbus group in 2018 and 72% in 2023.[55][56] The key trends for Airbus Commercial Aircraft (excluding Defence, Space and Helicopters) are as of each financial year ending 31 December:[57]
| Revenue (€ b) | Operating income[a] (€ b) | Value of order book (€ b) | Unfulfilled orders[b] | Net order intake | Aircraft deliveries | Number of employees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 49.2 | 1.5 | 1,010 | 6,874 | 731 | 688 | 73,852 |
| 2017 | 43.4 | 2.2 | 950 | 7,265 | 1,109 | 718 | 74,542 |
| 2018 | 47.9 | 4.2 | 411[c] | 7,577 | 747 | 800 | 80,924 |
| 2019 | 54.7 | 1.7 | 424 | 7,482 | 768 | 863 | 80,985 |
| 2020 | 34.2 | −1.3 | 324 | 7,184 | 268 | 566 | 78,487 |
| 2021 | 36.1 | 4.1 | 345 | 7,082 | 507 | 611 | 73,560 |
| 2022 | 41.4 | 4.8 | 390 | 7,239 | 820 | 661 | 79,134 |
| 2023 | 47.7 | 3.6 | 490 | 8,598 | 2,094 | 735 | 90,032 |
| 2024 | 50.6 | 4.2 | 629 | 8,658 | 826 | 766 |
The divisionAirbus Defence and Space was formed in January 2014 as part of the group restructuring from the former EADS divisionsAirbus Military,Astrium, and Cassidian (composed of Cassidian Electronics – develops and manufactures sensors, radars, avionics, and electronic warfare systems for military and security applications, Cassidian Air Systems – develops manned andunmanned aerial systems (UAVs), mission avionics, electronic defence and warning systems, and Cassidian Systems – provides global security systems such as command & control, lead system integration,TETRA andTETRAPOL communication systems for public safety, industry, transportation, and defence). This line of business was the first one in the world to begin field tests with TETRA Enhanced Data Service (TEDS).[58][59]
TheAirbus Military division, which manufactured tanker, transport, and mission aircraft;Airbus Helicopters, the world's largest helicopter supplier;Astrium, provided systems for aerial, land, naval, and civilian security applications, includingAriane,Galileo, andCassidian. Through Cassidian, EADS was a partner in theEurofighter consortium as well as in theMBDA missile systems manufacturer.
Airbus Helicopters, formerly known as Eurocopter, is a helicopter manufacturing and support company.
| Dec 1970 | Jan 1992 | July 2000 | Sep 2000 | Jan 2001 | Dec 2006 | Apr 2009 | Sep 2010 | Jan 2014 | May 2015 | Jan 2017 | Apr 2017 | ||
| European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV | Airbus Group NV | Airbus Group SE | Airbus SE | ||||||||||
| Airbus Industrie GIE | Airbus SAS | ||||||||||||
| Airbus Military SAS | Airbus Defence and Space SAS | ||||||||||||
| EADS Defence and Security | Cassidian SAS | ||||||||||||
| Astrium SAS | EADS Astrium SAS | ||||||||||||
| Eurocopter SA | Eurocopter SAS | Airbus Helicopters SAS | |||||||||||
| Name | Holding | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus Canada Limited Partnership | 75% | manufacturer of theAirbus A220 family of airliners |
| ArianeGroup | 50% | manufacturer of theAriane 6 space launch vehicle |
| ATR | 50% | manufacturer of theATR 42 andATR 72 regional aircraft |
| Dassault Aviation | 10.53% | manufacturer of theRafale fighter andFalcon business jets |
| Eurofighter | 46% | manufacturer of theEurofighter Typhoon fighter jet |
| MBDA | 37.5% | manufacturer of missile systems |
| NHIndustries | 62.5% | manufacturer of theNH90 military utility helicopter |
| Panavia Aircraft | 42.5% | manufacturer of theTornado fighter jet |
The 10 largest shareholders of Airbus in early 2026 were:[67]
The corporate management of Airbus is:[68]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2021) |
Airbus has several final assembly lines for different models and markets. These are:
Airbus, however, has a number of other plants in different European locations, reflecting its foundation as a consortium.
For aircraft assembled in Europe, aircraft parts often move between the different factories and the assembly lines via the use of theBeluga andBelugaXL, a fleet modified aircraft capable of carrying entire sections of fuselage. For aircraft assembled in China and the United States, the parts needed to build an aircraft meet in a single European location where they are loaded onto ships for the final journey to the assembly line.[69][70]
Airbus opened an assembly plant for the A320 family of aircraft inTianjin, China in 2009.[71][72][73] Airbus started constructing a $350 million component manufacturing plant inHarbin, China in July 2009.[74][75] It was fully operational by early 2011,[76] the 30,000 square metre plant manufactures composite parts and assembles composite work-packages for the A350 XWB, A320 families and future Airbus programmes. Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Corporation, Hafei Aviation Industry Company Ltd,AviChina Industry & Technology and other Chinese partners hold an 80% stake in the plant while Airbus controls the remaining 20%.[77][unreliable source?] In 2022, the Tianjin plant finished upgrading works to allow for production of A321.[78] In 2023, the Tianjin final assembly plant started construction to be expanded with a second production line.[79]
North America plays a crucial role for Airbus, both in terms of aircraft sales and suppliers. Of the approximately 5,300 Airbus jetliners sold worldwide, 2,000 are ordered by North American customers. These orders span Airbus' entire product line, from the compact A318 to the massive A380, accommodating 107 to 565 passengers. Notably, US contractors contribute significantly, supporting around 120,000 jobs and generating an estimated $5.5 billion in business. For instance, one variant of the A380 boasts 51% American content in terms of work share value.
Plans for aMobile, Alabama aircraft assembly plant were unveiled by Airbus CEOFabrice Brégier from the Mobile Convention Centre on 2 July 2012. The plans include a $600 million factory at theMobile Aeroplex at Brookley for the assembly of theA220, A319, A320 andA321 aircraft. It could employ up to 1,000 full-time workers when operational. Construction began on 8 April 2013, and became operable by 2015,[80] producing up to 50 aircraft per year by 2017.[81][82]
On 16 December 2024, it was reported that Airbus had leased 650,000 sq ft of office space inBengaluru'sWhitefield to build its Global Capacity Centre. The lease is for 10 years and valued at Rs 500 crore, securing the entire building in Titanium Tech Park. In this way, Airbus intends to strengthen its position inIndia.[83]
The key trends of Airbus SE are (as of each financial year ending 31 December):[84][d]
| Revenue (€ b) | Net profit[e] (€ b) | Research and development expenses (€ b) | New orders[f] (€ b) | Order backlog[g] (€ b) | Number of employees[g] (k) | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 31.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 44.1 | 184 | 110 | |
| 2005 | 34.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 92.5 | 253 | 113 | |
| 2006 | 39.4 | 0.19 | 2.4 | 69.0 | 262 | 116 | |
| 2007 | 39.1 | −0.43 | 2.6 | 136 | 339 | 116 | |
| 2008 | 43.2 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 98.6 | 400 | 118 | |
| 2009 | 42.8 | −0.72 | 2.8 | 45.8 | 389 | 119 | |
| 2010 | 45.7 | 0.58 | 2.9 | 83.1 | 448 | 121 | |
| 2011 | 49.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 131 | 540 | 133 | |
| 2012 | 56.4 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 102 | 566 | 140 | |
| 2013 | 59.2 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 218 | 686 | 144 | |
| 2014 | 60.7 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 166 | 857 | 138 | |
| 2015 | 64.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 159 | 1,005 | 136 | |
| 2016 | 66.5 | 0.99 | 2.9 | 134 | 1,060 | 133 | |
| 2017 | 66.7 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 158 | 997 | 129 | |
| 2018 | 63.7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 55.5 | 459[c] | 133 | [85] |
| 2019 | 70.4 | −1.3 | 3.3 | 81.1 | 471 | 134 | [86] |
| 2020 | 49.9 | −1.1 | 2.8 | 33.2 | 373 | 131 | [86] |
| 2021 | 52.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 62.0 | 398 | 126 | [87] |
| 2022 | 58.7 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 82.5 | 449 | 134 | [88] |
| 2023 | 65.4 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 186.5 | 553 | 147 | [89] |
| 2024 | 69.2 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 103.5 | 629 | 157 | [90] |
| This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2024) |
In October 2005 the BritishMinistry of Defence warned European politicians to stop, as it saw it, interfering in the corporate governance of EADS. The former UK Defence Procurement MinisterLord Drayson hinted that the UK government, a major customer for EADS, may withhold future contracts. "As a key customer, we see it as important for EADS to move in a direction that is free from political interference."[91]
On 4 April 2006, DaimlerChrysler announced its intention to reduce its shareholding from 30% to 22.5%. The company placed a value on the stake at "approximately €2.0 billion."[92] Lagardère was to reduce its holding by an identical amount. However,Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, a unit of the French government, acquired 2.25% of EADS. At issue, as a result, is the fact that the German and French shareholdings were now in imbalance.[93]
On 30 August 2006, shortly after the stock price decline caused by the A380 delivery delays, more than 5% of EADS stock was reportedly purchased by the Russian state-ownedVneshtorgbank,[94][95] bringing its share to nearly 6%. In December 2007, Vneshtorgbank sold EADS shares to another state-controlled bank,Vnesheconombank. EADS shares were to be delivered by Vneshekonombank to the charter capital of JSCUnited Aircraft Corporation in 2008.[96][97][importance?]
On 3 October 2006, shortly after EADS admitted further delays in the Airbus 380 programme would cost the company 4.8 billion euros in lost earnings in 2010, EADS shares, traded on the Paris arm of Euronext, were suspended after they surpassed the 10% loss limit. Trading resumed later in the day with the one-day loss holding at 7%.[importance?]
In 2007,Dubai Holding acquired 3.12% of EADS stock, making the Dubai buy-out fund one of the largest institutional shareholders.[98][importance?]
In 2008, EADS had arms sales equivalent to $17.9 billion, which constituted 28% of total revenue.[99][importance?]
In April 2013, Daimler sold its shares in EADS.[100]
As of 31 December 2024[update], 73.7% of Airbus Group stock is publicly traded on six European stock exchanges (Euronext Paris in France, theFrankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany, and the four regional stock exchangesBolsa de Madrid,Borsa de Barcelona, Bolsa de Valencia and Bolsa de Bilbao in Spain). 0.6% of the shares are treasury shares owned by Airbus, while the remaining 25.7% are owned by a "Contractual Partnership". As of 31 December 2024[update], the partnership is owned bySOGEPA (10.8%), GZBV (10.8%) andSEPI (4.1%).[101] SOGEPA is owned by the French State, GZBV is majority owned by the German state-owned investment and development bankKfW, and SEPI is a Spanish state holding company.
In April 2020, Airbus announced that it had cut aircraft production by a third due to the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Guillaume Faury, the company was "bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed". The recession put its survival at stake and presented the need for deep job cuts throughout all Airbus departments. 3,000 workers in France were involved in government-assisted furlough schemes.[102]
Airbus has committed to "Flightpath 2050", an aviation industry plan to reduce noise, CO2, andNOx emissions.[103]
Airbus was the first aerospace business to becomeISO 14001 certified, in January 2007; this is a broader certification covering the whole organisation, not just the aircraft it produces.[104]
In association withHoneywell andJetBlue, Airbus has developed anaviation biofuel to reduce pollution and dependence on fossil fuels, claiming that this has the potential to replace up to a third of the world's aviation fuel. Algae-based biofuel absorbs carbon dioxide during growth and does not compete with food production. This alternative may be commercially available by 2030 but algae and other vegetation-based fuels are in an early stage of development, and fuel-bearing algae have been expensive to develop.[105] Airbus offers delivery flights to airlines using a 10% biofuel blend in standard engines. The fuel does not cut carbon emissions but is free of sulphur emissions, which demonstrates that the fuel could be used in commercial flights in unmodified engines.[106]
On 22 July 2024, at the2024Farnborough International Airshow, Airbus and Airports Council International (ACI) World association signed a cooperation agreement to support the industry's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, including the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).[107][108]
In September 2020, Airbus unveiled threeliquid hydrogen-fueled "ZEROe" concept aircraft that it claims could become the first commercial zero-emission aircraft, entering service by 2035.[109][110] The design includes an aircraft with six eight-bladed turbo-prop removable motors.[111]
At the Airbus Summit in March 2025, Airbus delivered updates on its development of the ZEROe hydrogen powered aircraft.[112][113][114][115]
Boeing has continually protested over "launch aid" and other forms of government aid to Airbus, while Airbus has argued that Boeing receives illegal subsidies through military and research contracts and tax breaks.[116]
In July 2004, former Boeing CEOHarry Stonecipher accused Airbus of abusing a 1992 bilateral EU-US agreement providing for disciplines for large civil aircraft support from governments. Airbus is given reimbursable launch investment (RLI), called "launch aid" by the US, from European governments, with the money being paid back with interest plus indefinite royalties, but only if the aircraft is a commercial success.[117] Airbus contends that this system is fully compliant with the 1992 agreement andWTO rules. The agreement allows up to 33% of the programme cost to be met through government loans, which are to be fully repaid within 17 years with interest and royalties. These loans are held at a minimum interest rate equal to the cost of government borrowing plus 0.25%, which would be below market rates available to Airbus without government support.[118] Airbus claims that since the signature of the EU-US agreement in 1992, it has repaid European governments more than US$6.7 billion and that this is 40% more than it has received.
Airbus argues that the military contracts awarded to Boeing, the second largest US defence contractor, are in effect a form of subsidy, such as the controversy surrounding the BoeingKC-767 military contracting arrangements. The significant US government support of technology development viaNASA also provides significant support to Boeing, as do the large tax breaks offered to Boeing, which some people claim are in violation of the 1992 agreement andWTO rules. In its recent products such as the787, Boeing has also been offered direct financial support from local and state governments.[119]
In January 2005 the European Union and United States trade representatives,Peter Mandelson andRobert Zoellick respectively, agreed to talks aimed at resolving the increasing tensions.[120][121] These talks were not successful with the dispute becoming more acrimonious rather than approaching a settlement.[122]
WTO ruled in August 2010 and in May 2011 that Airbus had received improper government subsidies through loans with below market rates from several European countries.[123] In a separate ruling in February 2011, WTO found that Boeing had received local and federal aid in violation of WTO rules.[124]
In 2005 theGovernment Pension Fund of Norway recommended the exclusion of several companies producingcluster bombs or components. EADS and its sister company EADS Finance BV were among them, arguing that EADS manufactures "key components for cluster bombs". The criticism was centred around TDA, a joint venture between EADS and Thales S.A. TDA produced themortar ammunition PR Cargo, which can be considered cluster ammunition, however this definition has since been successfully battled by EADS. EADS and its subsidiaries are now regarded as fulfilling all the conditions of theOttawa Treaty. According to the new point of view,[by whom?] no product of EADS or itssubsidiaries falls into the category ofantipersonnel mines as defined by the Ottawa Treaty ("landmines under the Ottawa Treaty"). In April 2006, the fund declared that the basis for excluding EADS from investments related to the production ofcluster munitions is no longer valid, however its shareholding of MBDA means the fund still excludes EADS due to its indirect involvement innuclear weapons production.[125]
On 2 June 2006 co-CEO Noël Forgeard and Airbus CEOGustav Humbert resigned following the controversy caused by the June 2006 announcement that deliveries of the A380 would be delayed by a further six months. Forgeard was one of a number of executives includingJean-Paul Gut who exercisedstock options in November 2005 and March 2006. He and twenty-one other executives are[when?] under investigation as to whether they knew about the delays in the Airbus A380 project which caused a 26% fall in EADS shares when publicised.The French government's actions were also under investigation; The state-owned bank Caisse des Dépots et Consignations (CDC) bought part of Lagardère's 7.5% stake in EADS in April 2006, allowing that latter to partially escape the June 2006 losses.[126]
In September 2024, Airbus received negative press attention for its links withAviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a Chinese company that provides aircraft to theMyanmar junta.[127][128] In a joint report, NGOsJustice for Myanmar and Info Birmanie outlined how the supplied aircraft and weapons were used by the Myanmar military to commit war crimes in theMyanmar civil war. The report called on Airbus to use its influence to pressure the Chinese firm to end its arms sales to the Myanmar junta.[129]
In response to the report, Airbus stated its collaboration focused exclusively on the civil domain, and that its conduct complied with all laws and regulations.[130] In June 2025, Justice for Myanmar reported that Airbus had completed its divestment fromAviChina, AVIC's publicly listed subsidiary, by 1 April 2025.[131]
In 2003Tony Yengeni, formerchief whip of South Africa'sAfrican National Congress, was convicted of fraud worth around US$5 billion relating to an arms deal with South Africa, in which Airbus (formerly EADS) were major players.[132] It was claimed that Airbus had admitted that it had "rendered assistance" to around thirty senior officials, including defence force chief GeneralSiphiwe Nyanda, to obtain luxury vehicles.[133] In March 2003, South Africa withdrew all charges of bribery against the former head of EADS South Africa,[134] and in September 2004, the prosecutor's office dismissed the bribery charges against Yengeni.[citation needed]
In August 2012 the UK'sSerious Fraud Office opened a criminal investigation into an EADS subsidiary, GPT Special Project Management Ltd, regarding bribery allegations made by GPT's former programme director, Ian Foxley. Foxley alleged that luxury cars were bought for senior Saudis, and that millions ofpounds sterling were paid to mysteriousCayman Islands companies, possibly to secure a £2 billion contract to renew theSaudi Arabian National Guard's military telecommunications network.[135] Foxley's allegations were supported by two other GPT employees.[136] The later agreement between Airbus and the SFO on 31 January 2020 excluded the settlement of this case.[137]
The FrenchNational Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), the UKSerious Fraud Office (SFO) and the US Department of Justice (DoJ) had been jointly investigating irregularities in Airbus marketing practices since 2016, in particular the activities of agents Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Austria,[h] but also China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Kuwait, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Colombia and Nepal.[137]
In July 2016, SFO opened a criminal investigation into "suspicions of fraud, bribes and corruption" after Airbus informed British authorities of a failure to disclose the role played by some intermediaries facilitating the sale of aircraft. Airbus was required to provide this information in order to benefit from export credits, which the British, French and German governments had suspended. In March 2017, the PNF subsequently opened a preliminary investigation into "suspicions of fraud and corruption in civil aviation activities" in cooperation with the SFO.[137]
The allegations included that from 2012 onwards Airbus was responsible for recruiting and remunerating intermediaries to influence the award of civil and military contracts. Payments worth hundreds of millions of euros in alleged secret commissions were made and numerous sales including inSaudi Arabia,Kazakhstan,Philippines,Indonesia,Austria,China andMauritius were under suspicion of bribery.[138][verification needed][139]
The investigation focused on the Airbus, Strategy and Marketing Organization (SMO), the department responsible for negotiating sales contracts and which, La Tribune reported as having "a network and an incredible influence around the world". Directed successively byJean-Paul Gut andMarwan Lahoud, the SMO was dissolved in 2016 under the new executive director, Thomas Enders, as part of a "clean hands" operation.[140]
In 2014, in a case referred to as the Kazakhgate affair, a search atAirbus Helicopters by French authorities found emails confirming that Airbus had agreed in principle to pay €12 million in bribes to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan to facilitate the sale of helicopters. Officers from the Central Anti-Corruption Office (OCLCIFF) then searched the home ofMarwan Lahoud on 8 February 2016.[i] This revealed that two Turkish intermediaries had claimed payment of commissions due in connection with the sale of 160 aircraft to China valued at US$10 billion. A message by Lahoud suggested that the commissions could reach US$250 million. The SMO was to conceal these commissions as false invoices for a fictitious Caspian pipeline project.[j]
In January 2020, French, British and American courts validated three agreements between Airbus and the PNF,[141] the UK SFO,[137][142] and the US DoJ.[143][144] Airbus recognised the charges and agreed to pay fines of €2.1 billion in France, €984 million in the United Kingdom and €526 million in the United States. The penalties were the highest ever issued by the French and British bodies.[145][146][147]
These settlements close the prosecution of Airbus regarding the Kazakhstan case but not allegations of misconduct in Saudi Arabia, China and Turkey, which Airbus denies.[148] Airbus managers may still be pursued as private individuals.[k]
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{{cite web}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)Daimler sells remaining equity interest in EADS: On 27 March 2013, the extraordinary shareholders' meeting of EADS approved a new management and shareholder structure. Subsequently, on 2 April 2013, the shareholders' pact concluded in the year 2000 was dissolved and replaced with a new shareholders' pact without the participation of Daimler.
{{cite news}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)Hence, the message from Enders to all those who haven't yet got the message, to those who think they can just carry on as before, including the bribery: "Leave this company rather than make us take you out of the company. Because we're in a dead serious situation, dear colleagues."
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