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 robert.wall@wsj.com
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