Pilatus reports sales of CHF1.3bn in its final 2022 financial results


Pilatus has reported one of its “best years ever”, announcing sales of CHF1.3bn ($1.38bn) in its final results for the 2022 financial year, despite supply chain disruptions.

The Swiss OEM reported orders for the year totalling over CHF1.6bn ($1.7bn) and an operating income of CHF226m. This brings the firm’s order book value to a total of around CHF2.4bn.

Hansueli Loosli, chairman, Pilatus said: “I’m very happy with the year-end results and the Pilatus team performed very well. Our PC-12 NGXs and PC-24s (pictured) were, and are, absolute bestsellers, our order books are full.”

In 2022, Pilatus delivered 40 PC-24s, 80 PC-12 NGXs, 10 PC-21s and three PC-6s. In its General Aviation Business Unit, a purchase agreement for more than 20 PC-12 NGXs was signed with the US company Tradewind Aviation, doubling the business airline’s fleet.

The company’s biggest market was The Americas, with 41.9% of sales coming from the region, closely followed by 35% of sales from Europe.

However, Loosli noted that no new orders for trainer aircraft were signed last year. “But the demand is there in government aviation as well, and we receive a high volume of enquiries. I’m very confident that we will reel in an order soon,” he said.

Pilatus said that whilst aircraft deliveries account for a large share of the results, the customer service business unit has grown by around 10% from 2021.

Last year, the company acquired US sales and service centre, Skytech, gaining another 93 full-time employees. Skytech will continue to sell and service PC-24s and PC-12s along the US east coast.

Supply chain problems had continued to disrupt production and impact financial performance, said the Swiss-based OEM.

Markus Bucher, CEO, Pilatus, said: “Rarely has the company had to operate in such a geopolitically unpredictable period. Never before have we encountered such serious supply chain difficulties.” Despite the instability of the market that Pilatus has still benefitted from “exceptionally high demand” for its aircraft, he added

The firm remains “confident”  about the outlook for 2023, with the construction of its maintenance hangar in Buochs, Switzerland to start by mid-2023. It also expects the delivery of the 2,000th PC-12 and 200th PC-24 this year. Another building for its composite components production site at Ennetbürgen, Switzerland is due to open this year.

 

Pilatus 2022 financial results – at a glance:

  • Sales totalling around CHF1.3bn ($1.38bn)
  • Total order book valued around CHF2.4bn
  • Deliveries of 40 PC-24s and 80 PC-12 NGXs
  • The Americas account for 41.9% of sales and Europe 35%
  
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