MARIGNANE, France – Airbus Helicopters expects new orders and deliveries to keep growing this year, its chief executive told Reuters, as a scramble for new energy supplies and higher military spending accelerate a recovery in the long-sluggish rotary-wing sector.
Orders had already risen thanks in part to a major French military order, reaching a record 8.55 billion euros in 2021 after a decade of overall decline led by offshore oil firms. Further military contracts were booked this year. “We are seeing the first positive signs in the oil and gas market [and] positive signs of recovery in activity and flight hours,” Even said.
“There has been a big lull in the oil and gas part for a long time. We note the operators are very concerned to contain their own emissions,” said program manager Gilles Armstrong.In the long, low Light Helicopters building nearby, three lines of small H125/H130 helicopters are gradually speeding up.
“You can’t not be worried: it concerns the whole of the aerospace industry,” he said in an interview.