The Helicopter Company (THC) has signed two monumental framework agreements with Leonardo and Airbus Helicopters for a total of up to 250 helicopters, as the Saudi company continues its historic ramp-up of operations in the Kingdom.
The deals were announced during the first day of HAI Heli-Expo 2024 in Anaheim, California, with the aircraft covered by the agreements due to be delivered over the next five to seven years.
Established just five years ago as the first national commercial helicopter operator in Saudi Arabia, THC is backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund with the aim of contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 — the Kingdom’s plan to diversify its economy and develop public service sectors.
THC received its first aircraft at the end of 2019 and quickly grew its fleet to 17 aircraft by 2022. Today, it has a fleet of 47 aircraft that work across a wide spectrum of sectors, from oil-and-gas to tourism, VVIP transportation, air medical, aerial work, and search-and-rescue.
The first agreement announced at Heli-Expo was with Airbus for up to 120 aircraft, including firm orders for eight H125s and 10 H145s. The H125s will be used for aerial work and tourism, while the H145s will perform a variety of roles, including air medical and corporate transport. The types under the larger agreement are not being disclosed, but will cover a wider variety of the Airbus range, a spokesperson confirmed.
Announcing the agreement, Bruno Even, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said he has been impressed with the speed of THC’s implementation of its vision to develop an entire helicopter ecosystem within the country.
“This framework agreement that we’ll sign today is just an opportunity to bring this partnership to the next step,” he said.
The aircraft covered by the firm order are converted options from an earlier contract, and bring THC’s Airbus orderbook to 60 aircraft (10 H160s, 20 H125s, and 30 H145s). The company has 25 of those aircraft in service.
THC CEO Arnaud Martinez said the operator is “a unique company, in a unique countrym, with a unique vision.”
“[The] framework agreement is reflecting that unique vision,” he said. “We don’t buy helicopters just for the sake of buying helicopters — we are bringing the helicopters that the Kingdom and the Saudi Vision [2030] needs.”
The agreement with Leonardo is for up to 130 aircraft, which will include AW109s, AW169s, AW139s, and AW189Ks. Today’s announcement included a firm order for 20 AW139s, which will be used for air medical and search-and-rescue operations in the Kingdom. When delivered, they will bring THC’s AW139 fleet to close to 50 aircraft, making them the owner of one of the largest AW139 fleets in the world.
Deliveries of the AW139s, H125s and H145s are due to take place over the next two years.
“We’re proud of THC’s massive helicopter fleet expansion plan leveraging our technology,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, in a press release announcing the news.
During the ceremony to mark the agreement, Cutillo and Martinez stressed the partnership that has developed between the two companies.
“We started THC’s journey with an AW139 — seven of them, initially,” said Martinez. “We are far beyond that now, but it was joint with a partner from day one.”
