Aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is confident that it will achieve its financial targets for this year, despite the uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump's import duties. The British company calls the trade tariffs "manageable" and expects to be able to offset them through "mitigating measures", such as cost savings.

"We are closely monitoring the potential indirect impact on economic growth and inflation and will continue to take appropriate measures," CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said in a statement ahead of the company's annual meeting on Thursday. Rolls-Royce, which builds engines for the Airbus A350, A330neo and some Boeing 787s, continues to expect an operating profit of ú2.7 billion, or around Ç3.2 billion, this year.

Trump's tariffs are forcing the airline industry to adapt after decades of being shielded from tariffs. European aircraft manufacturer Airbus also stuck to its full-year forecast on Wednesday. The world's largest planemaker still expects to deliver around 820 planes, down from 766 last year. But that forecast excludes the tariffs and assumes there will be "no additional disruption to global trade or the global economy," Airbus warned.

However, many airlines have already indicated that they are not prepared to pay the additional costs for aircraft resulting from the tariffs. In addition, China has ordered its airlines to stop buying aircraft from the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing and is sending undelivered aircraft back to Seattle.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)