The Helicopter Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, announced today (Tuesday) an additional order to purchase 11 AW139 helicopters from Leonardo, as well as the signing of a confirmed order to purchase 8 additional H145 helicopters, during the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, which runs until July 24.

The new order reflects the company's efforts in developing its fleet.

The company stated that the 11 medium twin-engine AW139 helicopters are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028, under the agreement signed during the HAI Heli-Expo, now known as Verticon, in 2024.

This additional order marks a key milestone within the multi-year framework agreement, which allowed for the purchase of up to 130 helicopters, and reinforces The Helicopter Company's strategy based on collaboration with two leading original equipment manufacturers, along with its disciplined approach to improving fleet efficiency, enhancing its readiness to meet the evolving needs of the aviation sector in the Kingdom.

The CEO of The Helicopter Company, Captain Arno Martinez, said: 'We are proud to expand the scope of our long-standing partnership, which reinforces our leading position and operational capabilities within the region and beyond, building on our current fleet of AW139 helicopters, which has made The Helicopter Company one of the largest and most renowned operators of this model worldwide.'

He added that this order reflects the company's continued implementation of its expansion plans, and contributes directly to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by supporting the building of a strong and dynamic aviation ecosystem.

In the same context, Airbus Helicopters and The Helicopter Company (THC), a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund and the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Kingdom, announced the signing of a confirmed order for 8 additional H145 helicopters during the Farnborough International Airshow.

The new helicopters are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028, under the historic framework agreement signed by the two companies during Verticon 2024, which includes up to 120 helicopters of various Airbus models to be delivered over three to five years.

The Helicopter Company affirmed that the new order reflects its strategy to develop the fleet and enhance its future readiness, ensuring efficient integration of the new aircraft into its operations. The new helicopters will support the company's growing services, including air ambulance and other critical missions within the Kingdom and abroad.

The CEO of The Helicopter Company, Captain Arno Martinez, said that the additional order strengthens the growing partnership between the two companies over the past six years, noting that investment in a modern and flexible fleet supports the company's regional and international growth and expansion plans.

For his part, the CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Matthieu Louvot, expressed his pride in expanding cooperation with The Helicopter Company, affirming that the H145 has proven its efficiency in the challenging operating conditions in the Kingdom, especially in high-temperature and high-altitude environments.