Strong sales at Airbus owner EADS

29 July 2011 Last updated at 06:46 GMT Airbus said there had been strong demand in the commercial aviation sector European aerospace giant EADS has reported first-half sales ahead of expectations, amid strong demand for its Airbus aircraft.

Sales rose 8% to 21.9bn euros ($31.3bn; £19.2bn), while it took orders worth 58.1bn euros in the period.

EADS said orders at the recent Paris Air Show had been "record-breaking".

However, net profit fell 41% on the first half of 2010 to 109m euros after the company faced higher financial charges at the beginning of the year.

And it said the weakening US dollar and British pound were offsetting higher sales.

"Deliveries remained at a high level, with 258 aircraft at Airbus Commercial, 205 helicopters at Eurocopter and the 44th consecutive successful Ariane 5 launch," EADS said.

'Continuing momentum'

Last month, American Airlines placed what it called "the largest aircraft order in history".

It ordered 260 Airbus A320 aircraft, as well as 200 Boeing 737s.

"Our results for the first half of 2011 mirror the strong demand in the commercial aviation sector," said EADS chief executive Louis Gallois.

"In terms of orders, Paris Air Show was record-breaking for us, particularly thanks to the A320neo.

"The recent historic order by American Airlines adds to this remarkable success story as the strong commercial momentum continues beyond Le Bourget."

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