Airbus said on July 29, 2026 that it left its 2026 guidance unchanged after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results in Paris, with higher jet deliveries and defence gains supporting revenue and profit. The planemaker posted adjusted operating profit of €2.43 billion, up 54%, on revenue of €20.53 billion, and confirmed a €5 billion share buyback over three years as it balanced shareholder returns with longer-term aircraft strategy.
Airbus also set medium-term financial targets for 2029, aiming for adjusted EBIT of €12 billion to €13 billion. It said about €10 billion of that could come from its commercial aircraft business, underlining the importance of its civil aviation operations in the group’s profit outlook.
The update came as Airbus presented a message focused on delivery performance and capital discipline rather than a formal launch of a new jet programme. Reuters framed the company as upbeat on deliveries and less aggressive in the engine dispute, pointing to production recovery and execution as the main near-term operational priorities.
The strategic reading attached to the results is that Airbus is trying to show it can continue rewarding shareholders while preserving scope for a possible future clean-sheet aircraft strategy. The confirmed news, however, is limited to the financial update, the unchanged guidance and the share buyback, not a decision to launch a new aircraft programme.