EADS profits up on Airbus deliveries 14 May 2013 Last updated at 08:02 The parent company of Airbus, EADS, has reported a sharp rise in profits for the first three months of the year. Operating profits at the company rose by 56% to 741m euros ($963m; £629m) in the quarter. Much of the rise was down to higher production at its Airbus subsidiary, where revenue climbed by 16%. Last year, Airbus reclaimed the top slot in the civil aircraft industry in terms of deliveries, having fallen behind rival Boeing in 2011. Airbus said it had delivered 144 aircraft between January and March, up from 131 in the same three months last year. EADS restated its forecast that it would increase deliveries of commercial jets this year to between 600 and 610, as demand continues from airlines in the Middle East and Asia. Net profits for the quarter nearly doubled compared with the same period in 2012, to 241m euros ($314m; £204m). Chief executive Tom Enders said the company "had a rather good start into 2013" and remained focused on improving profitability "in 2013 and beyond." However, EADS said that it had spent a significant amount of cash to boost its inventories for its new projects. The aerospace giant beefed up the working capital at Airbus and its helicopter unit Eurocopter.