Airbus SE earnings surged in the first quarter as the European planemaker churned out higher numbers of the A320 narrow-body jet that’s the biggest global rival to Boeing Co.’s grounded 737 Max.
The company delivered 126 A320s, a model that appears to have overcome a run of engine manufacturing faults just as the 737 faces questions about its future after two fatal crashes in five months.
Adjusted earnings before interest and tax jumped almost 40-fold to 549 million euros (US$614 million), according to a statement Tuesday, providing a solid starting point for Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury, who took over from long-time head Tom Enders on April 10.