Farnborough, United Kingdom – Airbus Helicopters and The Helicopter Company (THC), a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial helicopter operator, have announced a firm order for eight additional Airbus H145 helicopters at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The helicopters are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028 and fall under the historic framework agreement signed between THC and Airbus at Verticon in 2024. The original agreement covered up to 120 Airbus helicopters of various types to be delivered over the following three to five years.
The order reflects THC's disciplined approach to fleet optimisation and its forward-looking growth strategy. By planning deliveries across a structured two-year window, THC will ensure seamless availability for integration of new aircraft into its operations. The H145s will support THC's expanding range of services, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other mission-critical operations across the Kingdom and beyond.
Captain Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC, said “The additional order of H145s reinforces the dynamic partnership we have developed with Airbus over the past six years. By investing in a fleet that is optimised, agile and future-ready, THC is strengthening our ability to anticipate and meet our customers’ evolving needs while supporting the Company’s next phase of development. The eight additional H145s will help to enhance our operational capabilities and position THC to further extend our footprint beyond the Kingdom, reinforcing our standing as both a regional and local leader and an increasingly prominent global player in aviation.”
Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said “We are honored to further deepen our partnership with The Helicopter Company through this additional commitment for eight H145s. This agreement is a testament to the trust THC places in our multi-mission platforms to support the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding aviation ecosystem. The H145 has already proven its excellence in Saudi Arabia’s demanding 'hot and high' conditions, and we are proud to see the growing number of H145s powering THC’s operations as they scale their world-class services,” he added.
THC is at the forefront of developing commercial helicopter services in Saudi Arabia, having introduced the H145 into service for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and deployed the H145 in support of the Dakar Rally. This order further advances THC's mission of supporting the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals by strengthening Saudi Arabia's aviation sector and expanding access to world-class helicopter services for clients domestically and internationally.
Airbus’ H145 is designed to deliver excellent performance throughout the flight envelope and is the latest member of the company’s twin-engine rotorcraft product range, offering built-in mission capability and flexibility, particularly in high-and-hot operating conditions. More than 1,800 helicopters of the H145 family are in service worldwide, accumulating over 8.6 million flight hours. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.