EADS Space Division posted earning before interest and taxes of 58 million euros ($69.3 million) in 2005, up from 9 million euros ($10.8 million) in 2004, as revenues remained relatively flat at 3 billion euros ($3.6 billion), EADS reported March 8.

The improvement in earnings before interest and taxes reflects growth in all space business units, combined with cost savings following a restructuring. Revenues were driven by the delivery of telecommunication satellites and the Ariane 5 production ramp-up, as well as increase in Paradigm service revenues. At year-end 2005, the division’s order book stood at 10.9 billion euros ($13 billion), down slightly from 11.3 billion ($13.5 billion) euros at the end of 2004.

Overall, EADS posted a profit of 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) in 2005, as revenues climbed to 34.2 billion euros ($40.9 billion).

While Airbus continues to drive EADS overall performance, “profitability at Eurocopter, and at our combined defense and space businesses is also on a clear upward trend,” EADS CEOs Thomas Enders and Noel Forgeard, said in a statement.