By Gianluca Lo Nostro
July 21 (Reuters) - Airbus set a 2029 adjusted operating profit target of 12 billion-13 billion euros ($13.69 billion-$14.83 billion) on Tuesday and announced a 5 billion euro share buyback programme, signalling confidence in its ability to sharply increase earnings as it ramps up aircraft production.
The target would represent a near doubling from the 7.13 billion euros of adjusted earnings before interest and taxes the world's largest planemaker generated in 2025 and is well
above its 2026 target of 7.5 billion euros.
Airbus is seeking to boost profits by increasing aircraft deliveries to meet strong airline demand while gradually overcoming supply-chain disruption and engine shortages that have constrained output across the aerospace industry.
The company said its commercial aircraft division alone was expected to generate around 10 billion euros in operating profit in 2029.
J.P. Morgan analysts said earlier this month Airbus was likely to reach that level of profit in its commercial aircraft business within three years.
Airbus left its 2026 guidance unchanged.
DELIVERIES PICK UP AS ENGINE CRISIS EASES
"We have a level of visibility we've never had before. We've put behind us a lot of challenges and we've cleared the skies to move forward, and we think we're in a good place to give an outlook," CEO Guillaume Faury told investors gathered in London.
Airbus started the year slowly because of supply-chain and engine bottlenecks but has since accelerated deliveries, increasing first-half handovers by 15% year-on-year.
Engine supplier Pratt & Whitney also signalled on Tuesday that maintenance disruption that has left hundreds of aircraft grounded was easing.
($1 = 0.8764 euros)
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
