Airbus more than doubled its half-year profits and bolsters Boeing's rivalry

An Airbus A350-1000 and a Boeing panel at the Paris Air Show 2019.REUTERS / Pascal Rossignol

• Airbus earnings more than doubled in the first half compared to the same period in 2018.
• Its adjusted operating profit reached 2.53 billion euros (2.82 billion dollars), an increase of 118% over the first half of last year.
• Airbus has attributed the increased demand to its A320 family, including its more efficient NEO version, but warned of impending Brexit-related threats, US EU tariffs and problems with delivery.
• The boost from Airbus comes from the fact that it is already threatening the status of the world's leading planner of its US rival, Boeing, while Boeing is facing the fallout from two accidents of the 737 Max, resulting in a decline deliveries and profits.
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Airbus earnings more than doubled in the first half of 2019, beating more and more its fight for aviation supremacy with Boeing, its US rival.

Airbus, The largest aerospace group in Europe, said Wednesday that its operating profit adjusted for the first half of 2019 reached 2.53 billion euros ($ 2.82 billion) – a Increase of 118% against 1.16 billion euros in the first half of 2018.

In the second quarter, its adjusted operating income amounted to 1.98 billion euros ($ 2.2 billion), an increase of 72% over the same period last year. Last year, with a profit of 1.15 billion euros (1.28 billion dollars).

An Airbus A330 NEO flies over a Boeing sign at the Paris Air Show 2019.REUTERS / Pascal Rossignol

The results exceeded expectations, resulting in an increase in Airbus shares of 1.2%.

Read more: After a collapse in shipments, Boeing has fallen behind its rival Airbus, worsening its nightmare year

Airbus has attributed the increased production of its A320 family aircraft, including its more efficient NEO version. But he warned of the challenges of the second half.

"The second half of the year in terms of deliveries, and especially free cash flow, remains a challenge, "said Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, in a statement.

The boost from Airbus comes as its rivalry with Boeing intensifies and as Airbus threatens to take Boeing as the world's largest aircraft builder, for the first time in eight years , while Boeing fights against the fallout of two fatal crashes of his 737 Max.

A Boeing 737 Max ground aircraft is stationed at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington in July 2019.REUTERS / Lindsey Wbadon

Airbus is on the verge of becoming the world's largest aircraft builder, as the number of commercial aircraft delivered rose in the first half of 2019, while that of Boeing collapsed.

Boeing announced a loss of nearly $ 3 billion for the second quarter of 2019. The US giant struggles after two of its 737 Max bestsellers crashed dead in October 2018 and March 2019, killing 346 people.

The planes have been immobilized since March and new problems since the plane have constantly delayed his return. These delays are a source of frustration for airlines, who demand compensation, cancel flights, consider job cuts and, in some cases, cancel Boeing orders.

Read more: Boeing lost nearly $ 3 billion in the second quarter as the crisis of its 737 Max continues

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said during the release of the company's second quarter results in July that "determining moment "for Boeing.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury at the Paris Air Show in June 2019.ERIC PIERMONT / AFP / Getty Images

Airbus CEO Faury also warned on Wednesday about the consequences of the UK's departure from the EU and said governments should be prepared for a "likely" case where the UK will leave without having reached in agreement with the union. Airbus builds wings for its planes in the UK.

Faury also called for a "negotiated solution" to US threats to impose sanctions on the EU after the WTO found that the EU had subsidized Airbus subsidies . The WTO also found that the United States had improperly subsidized Boeing.

He warned that such tariffs, if they were introduced, "could significantly affect the delivery of new Airbus aircraft and helicopters to the US market and have a negative impact on the financial situation and results. operation of Airbus ".