Rheinmetall reports “boom” as results hit new records with orders for vehicles, ammunition and weapons
Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes has announced its preliminary traffic figures for December 2009 and for the last complete calendar year.
Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) for the month were up 34.8% to 2,827,000,000 from 2,097,300,000 in December 2008. Available seat kilometres (ASKs) also increased, by 14.3% to 3,702,900,000 from 3,240,800,000 for the respective months. The resulting load factor was 76.3%, an 11.7 percentage point increase over December 2008’s figure of 64.7%.
For the whole of 2009, RPKs totalled 26,095,600,000, a 3.1% increase on 2008’s figure of 25,308,100,000. ASKs though were cut by 2.7% to 39,988,000,000 from 41,106,900,000 in 2008. These figures produced a load factor of 65.3% for 2009, 3.7 pp up on 2008’s 61.6%.
Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
The forecast came as the Italian firm presented its new 2025–29 industrial plan to analysts, with its future figures bolstered by the European increase in defence spending.
Speaking before a committee on European affairs, the speakers addressed recent developments following an eventful few days. During this period, the UK pushed for increased support for Ukraine, while the EU eased budget constraints to allow for greater defence spending. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump introduced tariffs that could impact the defence industry.
NATO and other Western countries had been singing from the same song sheet since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia three years ago but the alliance has been weakened as the new US administration under President Donald Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine.
Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer raises defence spending, while both NATO and President Trump demand significant further increases.