Eurocopter released figures for 2010 revenues and bookings early this year, revealing that while turnover had increased, notably because of more deliveries in the lucrative medium-twin segment, orders dropped below a six-year average. The Marignane, France-based manufacturer further said it expects sustained or growing activity in the Asia market and in it service segment.
Total revenues grew by another 6 percent last year to €4.8 billion ($6.6 billion), while deliveries were down one unit--527 versus 528 in 2009. “The crisis has impacted light helicopters but we handed over more medium twins and our service business grew as well,” CEO Lutz Bertling explained at the company’s annual press conference in Paris in late January. Referring to the continuing downturn in the helicopter industry, Bertling asserted the 6-percent growth is “not a bad result in this environment.” Profit would be disclosed later by parent company EADS, he said, but Bertling added that Eurocopter’s margin is in the black and above the EADS average.
