Air Corporate, one of the largest business aviation operators in Italy, has placed a firm order for 43 helicopters from Airbus on the very last day of EBACE 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
It becomes the largest bulk deal recorded by Airbus Helicopters in Italy.
The bulk deal
The helicopter deal involves the purchase of 40 single-engine H125/H130 helicopters, plus three medium ACH160 aircraft from Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH), in harmony with the lounge package to add to the two ACH160 already in the order books.
The closing of the deal represents a great day for Airbus Corporate Helicopters themselves. This contract is the largest commercial helicopter order ever recorded by Airbus in Italy.
The manufacturer will see the helicopters delivered over the coming years for a range of roles, including corporate and private operations, as well as utility missions.
Testimonials
The Air Corporate board said optimistically in a statement: “We are experiencing a growing demand for the innovative ACH160 in the Italian market.”
“The ACH160 is a beautiful, safe, and comfortable helicopter and the Line configuration with Lounge package configuration guarantees elegance and, at the same time, excellent performance”.
The French-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus furthered: “Equally the H125 remains the helicopter of reference for aerial work missions in Italy due to its unrivalled performance. The H130 is also enjoying great success in our country for tourist flights and passenger transport”.
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Thomas Hein, Airbus Helicopters Head of Europe Region said: “I would like to thank Air Corporate for its continued trust in our products. This order is the result of the years we invested in building and maintaining a strong business relationship with Air Corporate.”
“I am proud of the success of Air Corporate in further expanding its fleet and the private business aviation sector in Italy,” he concluded.
A growing portfolio
The latest announcement adds on the already extensive 28 additional orders from Vernoa-based Air Corporate. In recent years, despite headwinds like the pandemic and economic uncertainty, the company is undergoing an aggressive fleet expansion, showing its resilience and the ability to effectively manage its cash flow.
Interestingly, in the past two years, the company has welcomed 17 Airbus helicopters, including the first of two dual-engine H135 variants.
About Air Corporate
Being based in Verona, Italy, the company certainly knows how to deliver the very best experience. Despite Air Corporate being synonymous with helicopter operations, they also operate a sole fixed wing Pilatus PC-24 turboprop to complement their helicopter operations.
Airbus Helicopters
For over 5 decades, Italy has been a serious market for Airbus Helicopters. Air Corporate has been a serious benchmark for operations in the Italian helicopter sector, with 90 customers and a fleet of more than 240 rotorcraft in service.
Air Corporate’s milestone order shows its trust in the build quality and integrity on which Airbus Helicopters prides itself. All in all, the orders from Air Corporate show that the helicopter market in Europe is still resilient and popular.
