Business jet deliveries at Gulfstream Aerospace climbed 25 percent in the first half, with large-cabin shipments solely driving this increase, parent company General Dynamics announced today. In the first six months, the Savannah, Georgia aircraft manufacturer handed over 50 large-cabin jets, up from 37 a year ago, while midsize jet deliveries remained flat at 15 units.
First-half revenues at General Dynamicsâ aerospace division, which includes both Gulfstream and Jet Aviation, rose by 17.3 percent year-over-year, to $4.332 billion, though earnings fell by $73 million, to $659 million, as an increase in preowned transactionsâfive in first-half 2019 versus two in the same period last yearâeroded margins, the company said. However, this surge in preowned sales has prompted General Dynamics to marginally inflate full-year aerospace revenue and earnings guidance to $9.95 billion and $1.525 billion, respectively.
Aerospace book-to-bill in the period was 1.23:1, with General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic noting ârobust order activityâ in the second quarter and âsolid demandâ across the in-production Gulfstream product line. Backlog for the segment ended the second quarter at $12.145 billionâroughly flat from both three and 12 months earlier.
Meanwhile, Novakovic said Gulfstream is set to deliver its first G600 next month, following FAA type and production approval last month.