Jet demand and AI orders lift profits at Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce has reported a 50% rise in half-year profits as strong demand for its jet engines and power generators for AI datacentres solidified its turnaround efforts.

- Kalyeena Makortoff Jasper Jolly

The British jet-engine maker said underlying operating profits climbed to £1.7bn in the first six months of 2025, from £1.1bn during the same period last year, in an earnings update that pushed the company's shares to a fresh all-time high, and helped to lift the FTSE 100 share index to a new peak too.

The strong half-year results meant the manufacturer, whose main operations are in Derby, was able to raise its profit forecast for the year from a range of £2.7bn-£2.9bn to £3.1bn-£3.2bn.