EADS increases the profit, notes Airbus A350 challenges-Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)

European aerospace giant EADS posted a better-than-expected performance last year, thanks to the better commercial aviation market, the company reported Wednesday.

Amid the good news, however, recognised Airbus parent that are planning for the main A350 XWB programme is a "challenge."

EADS reported a profit of 553 million euros, 0.68 per share, in the fiscal year 2010, after a 763-million-euro loss, 0.94 per share, in 2009. The touted a record reserves of 11.9 billion euros.

EADS recorded 83 billion in orders, up from 46 billion, thanks to mostly commercial aircraft Airbus orders.

"2010 was a year of progress for EADS," EADS Chief Executive Officer Louis Gallois said in a statement, adding:

Commercial aircraft orders exceeded expectations and the generation of our cash flow was excellent. We have enormous steps forward in the management and control of the main programs: the A400M is significant-and A380 production risked steadily improves. At the same time, we are the closest attention to the A350 programme, the evolution of the defence and space budgets and to the restoration of the helicopter market. After taking off in our second decade of operations is an important priority for us now to further improve profitability in future years to lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

Airbus has orders for 581 A350s, her compound in response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (who was three years behind schedule).

The A350 calling her "top risk programme", said EADS. "Airbus has made good progress in 2010 with the beginning of the production for sub parts and sub assemblies at section level; the timetable remains challenging. "

It said that it still expects to deliver the first A350 in the second half of 2013.

The company said that Airbus 520 to 530 commercial airplanes this year, with more orders than deliveries must deliver. It said revenue and earnings per share should increase from 2010.

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