Airbus recorded a net profit of 4.213 billion euro in 2021, compared to the loss of 1.133 billion euro reported a year earlier, and will again pay out dividends after canceling them the previous year, with a proposed 1.5 euros per share, the group, which has reached 611 commercial aircraft deliveries, announced last week.
The net operating income (EBIT) was 5.342 billion euro in 2021, compared to negative 510 million euro in the previous year, while sales reached 52.149 billion euro, 4% more.
Free cash flow at the end of 2021 was 3.511 billion euros, compared to a negative 7.362 billion at the end of the previous year. Free cash flow before consolidated M&A and customer financing was 3.515 billion euros.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said that 2021 was a year of "transition" in which the focus "shifted from surviving the pandemic to recovery and growth." The Airbus earnings reflected that.
Faury believes that the "solid financial results'' reflect Airbus' cost containment and competitiveness efforts. In addition, he stressed that the increase in revenues and the good cash position allow the resumption of dividend payments.
By segment, the commercial division reported revenues of 36,164 million euro (+6%), with an adjusted EBIT of 3.570 billion euro thanks to cost reductions.
Airbus Helicopters posted revenues of 6.509 billion euro, 4% more, and Airbus Defense and Space cut its revenues by 2% to 10.186 billion euros.
During the year, net orders for commercial aircraft totaled 507, up 89%, with an order backlog that includes 7,082 commercial aircraft as of December 31, 2021. Airbus Helicopters recorded 414 net orders, up 54%.
Looking ahead to this year, the company expects no further disruptions in the global economy, so it anticipates 720 commercial aircraft deliveries and an EBIT of 5.5 billion euros.