Avincis, Europe’s largest aerial emergency services operator, has completed more than 9,200 flight hours and nearly 3,900 firefighting missions across Spain, Portugal and Italy during the 2026 wildfire season.
To put these figures into context, Avincis’ firefighting flight hours across Spain, Portugal and Italy have increased by nearly 90% compared with the same period last year.
In the process, its crews have dropped nearly 200 million liters of water—enough to fill nearly 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Together, these figures reflect the scale of one of Europe’s most challenging wildfire seasons in recent years and the growing demand placed on aerial firefighting operations across the continent.
As wildfire seasons become longer and more intense, Avincis is structured to provide a scalable aerial emergency response across Europe.
The company continues to work closely with public authorities, civil protection bodies, fire and rescue services and other emergency organizations across Southern Europe.
Globally, the company operates a firefighting fleet of around 70 aircraft, including 22 Canadair water bombers, enabling it to reinforce firefighting operations in Southern Europe as demand peaks throughout the season.
Across Spain, Portugal and Italy, Avincis operates a fully integrated response model, with pilots, engineers, maintenance technicians, operational teams and support personnel working together to keep aircraft mission-ready.
From planning and maintenance to deployment and recovery, every mission is coordinated to ensure a safe, reliable and continuous response.
John Boag, Group CEO of Avincis, said: “Wildfire seasons are becoming longer, and the pressure is being felt across the industry. Aircraft that once operated for three or four months during the summer are now required from as early as March through to October. This makes it more difficult to move aircraft and crews between regions, recruit experienced pilots and plan for a season that no longer has a clearly defined end point.
“Meeting this demand is not only about aircraft—it is about people. Our focus is on training our crews throughout the year and ensuring close coordination between firefighters on the ground and pilots in the air. That teamwork is what makes the difference when a fire breaks out.”
Spain and Portugal
So far this season, Avincis has logged 5,630 flight hours and 2,533 missions, dropping more than 120 million litres of water across the Iberian Peninsula.
Across the region, the company is currently operating 52 aircraft — a mixed fleet including the Canadair CL-215, Airbus AS332, Airbus AS350, Airbus AS355, Bell 212, Bell 407, Bell 412— supported by 266 professionals working across flight operations, engineering, maintenance and other technical and operational functions.
This combination of amphibious water bombers and different helicopter types give the operation the flexibility to manage crew rotations, scheduled inspections and maintenance requirements, while maintaining the level of aircraft availability required during periods of intense activity.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Avincis.
