The Helicopter Company (THC), Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial helicopter operator and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, has strengthened its long-term partnership with Leonardo by placing an additional order for 11 AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters during the Farnborough International Airshow 2026.
The new helicopters are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028 under the multi-year framework agreement signed between the two companies at HAI Heli-Expo (now Verticon) in 2024. The framework allows for the potential acquisition of up to 130 Leonardo helicopters, underscoring THC’s long-term fleet expansion strategy.
The latest order represents another step in THC’s fleet modernisation programme and supports the company’s dual-OEM strategy, ensuring operational flexibility while meeting the Kingdom’s growing demand for commercial helicopter services.
Once delivered, the additional AW139 helicopters will enhance THC’s capabilities across a broad range of missions, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), VIP transport and offshore operations. The expansion will also further strengthen THC’s position as one of the world’s largest operators of the AW139 platform.
Commenting on the announcement, Captain Arnaud Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of The Helicopter Company, said the order reinforces the company’s commitment to operational growth and long-term capability development.
“We are proud to expand our long-standing partnership with Leonardo, which continues to strengthen our operational capabilities both within the region and internationally. Building on our existing AW139 fleet, this additional order supports our fleet optimisation strategy while enabling us to expand our service offerings and global footprint,” Martinez said.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Co-General Manager of Leonardo and Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, said the latest agreement marks another milestone in THC’s long-term fleet development programme.
“We are pleased to move into the next phase of THC’s helicopter fleet expansion and modernisation strategy, following the recent delivery of its 40th Leonardo aircraft. We remain committed to supporting THC with advanced helicopter technology and comprehensive lifecycle support as it continues to expand its operations across Saudi Arabia,” Cutillo said.
The Leonardo AW139 remains the world’s best-selling helicopter in its class, with nearly 1,600 aircraft ordered by approximately 300 operators across more than 90 countries. The Middle East continues to be one of its strongest markets, accounting for around 18 percent of the global AW139 fleet, reflecting the platform’s versatility across offshore transport, emergency medical services, search and rescue, law enforcement and VIP operations.
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The continued expansion of THC’s AW139 fleet is expected to generate additional demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul services, component support, engine maintenance, spare parts provisioning, technical training and digital fleet management solutions. As helicopter operators continue to increase fleet utilisation across specialised missions, lifecycle support and predictive maintenance capabilities will become increasingly important in ensuring high aircraft availability and operational readiness.
The order also aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to develop a world-class aviation ecosystem through investments in advanced rotorcraft capabilities, aviation infrastructure and long-term technical support. For the regional MRO sector, the growing AW139 fleet presents opportunities for expanding local maintenance capacity, enhancing technical expertise and strengthening aftermarket support for one of the industry’s most widely deployed helicopter platforms.
