On the opening day of Heli-Expo 2024, The Helicopter Company (THC), a Saudi Arabian operator owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), made substantial commitments to Airbus and Leonardo, securing a total of 250 helicopters over multiple years.
THC’s agreements encompassed the purchase of 20 Leonardo AW139 twin-engine medium helicopters, with an option for an additional 130 units to be exercised within the next 5-7 years. Alongside, THC finalized deals with Airbus, securing eight H125 single-engine light helicopters and 10 H145 twin-engine platforms, while also establishing a framework for the delivery of 120 more aircraft within the same timeframe as the Leonardo order.
The H125 helicopters are earmarked for aerial work and tourism, while the H145s will be utilized for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and corporate transport missions.
Such framework agreements are increasingly favored by major operators to secure production slots and address projected demands and contractual obligations.
THC’s arrangement with Leonardo encompasses a range of helicopters, including the AW109 light twin, AW169, AW139 intermediate, and the AW189K, the latest iteration of the AW189 super-medium platform featuring the Safran Aneto engine.
Initial deliveries of the 20 AW139 helicopters are slated for 2025-26, primarily designated for EMS and search and rescue missions within Saudi Arabia, with THC expected to exercise its options in the first half of the year.
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Arnaud Martinez, THC’s CEO, emphasized on February 27 that these agreements would reinforce the company’s standing “as a global player as well as a regional leader.”
THC has a history of substantial orders, having previously procured 20 H145 light-twins and six medium-twin H160s in December 2021, followed by 16 AW139s in March 2022. Currently, THC operates 25 Airbus-built helicopters and nearly 50 aircraft in various capacities such as EMS, aerial work, tourism, and private charters, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy beyond oil.
In addition to these acquisitions, THC also inked a memorandum of understanding with Bristow Group’s Arabia Aircraft & Maintenance Services business at Heli-Expo, paving the way for collaborative endeavors in advanced air mobility initiatives within Saudi Arabia.
