However, he also warned of growing risks to its business, due to the deteriorating international environment.
"We ended the year in a stronger position than we feared when we revised our forecasts for the financial markets in July," said Guillaume Faury in a note published for the new year and consulted by Reuters.
Contacted by Reuters, an Airbus spokesman said the company never comments on internal correspondence.
Airbus this month reported 766 aircraft deliveries in 2024, slightly below its target of "around 770" but within the margin of error targeted by the aircraft manufacturer.
It remained ahead of rival Boeing for the sixth year running.
Guillaume Faury added that business would accelerate again during the year, and insisted that Airbus had to improve quality and delivery times.
Industry sources claim that engines are missing this month.
The Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters divisions achieved an "excellent commercial performance" in 2024, the CEO added, calling however for vital progress in both divisions' defense activities. He hinted that recent consolidation moves in space could seep into defense.
"We are also studying potential consolidation of our activities and possible new partnerships, particularly in the space sector where we are suffering the most," he wrote.
In December, Reuters reported that Airbus, Thales and Leonardo were studying the possibility of a satellite partnership, along the lines of MBDA, the world's second-largest missile manufacturer, controlled by a trio of groups including Airbus and Leonardo.
In the letter addressed to nearly 150,000 employees, shortly before the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday, Guillaume Faury stressed that Airbus was facing a "worrying context" and that it was crucial for the group to be prepared to react quickly to developments, without however mentioning any specific situation.
"As we enter 2025, it's clear that the international environment is deteriorating and becoming more complex, increasing the risks to our business," he said.
(Written by Tim Hepher, edited by Kate Entringer)