Airbus Helicopters chief upbeat on Middle East market after strong 2024

The Airbus division secured 455 gross orders - or 450 at a net level - last year, compared to 410 orders in 2023.

“For 2024 I confirm the continued momentum on the helicopter market, particular on the civil and the para public markets worldwide,” said Airbus Helicopters chief executive Bruno Even, speaking at a full-year briefing on 27 January.

He is similarly upbeat on prospects in the military segment, citing increased defence spend by many countries.

“There is a need to renew the military helicopter fleet, so also in the military market we see overall a positive trend,” he says, noting one of the strategic priorities of the company is to be “as competitive [in that market] as on the civil market”. He points to increased momentum and positive sales in 2024 with the military versions of the H145 and H225 models.

Airbus sales in 2024 included a deal with Iraq covering a dozen H225M multi-role helicopters for use by Iraqi Army Aviation, deliveries of which begin this year. It also late last year secured an order from Bahrain’s interior ministry for nine H145 light-twins to be deployed with the state’s police service.

“We see the market in the Middle East region being strong, both in the military and the civil [segments],” says Even.

“In particular we see Saudi Arabia developing well, with the need to provide air transport capability for VIP transport, for medical services and for all types of missions,” he says. “We really see the market in Saudi Arabia being strong. But not only there, in the rest of the region [too].”

Airbus Helicopters delivered 361 units in 2024, 15 more than the previous year. “It’s really a strong performance in a challenging context, in particular with the supply chain,” says Even.

He adds that an announcement will follow “in the course of 2025” on its move with Indian conglomerate TATA to add a final assembly line in the country for the H125 light single-engine helicopter, plans for which were first announced a year ago.

“We strongly believe in the development of the Indian market,” Even adds. “On the civil market we have seen strong momentum in 2024, in particular for the H125 which just confirms [to] us that we were right in this strategy to implement this assembly line.”