Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company (THC) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Bombardier for up to 70 business jets, marking the operator’s strategic entry into the fixed-wing business aviation market and creating significant long-term opportunities for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support in the region.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the proposed fleet includes 12 firm orders comprising five Challenger 3500, five Global 5500 and two Global 8000 aircraft, along with purchase options for up to 48 additional jets.
The planned acquisition represents a major diversification for THC, Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial helicopter operator, as it expands beyond rotary-wing operations to meet growing demand for private and corporate aviation services driven by the Kingdom’s rapidly developing tourism sector, expanding business activity and new economic destinations under Vision 2030.
If finalised, the fleet expansion will significantly strengthen Saudi Arabia’s business aviation ecosystem while creating sustained demand for aircraft maintenance, component support, technical training, spare parts provisioning and other aftermarket services across the Challenger and Global aircraft families.
The signing ceremony was attended by Captain Arnaud Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of The Helicopter Company, Mohammed Ovais Yusuf, Head of Aviation & Security at the Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Bombardier President and Chief Executive Officer Éric Martel and Pierre Beaudoin, Chairman of Bombardier.
The agreement underscores Bombardier’s continued focus on expanding its presence in the Middle East’s growing business aviation market while supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to develop a world-class aviation ecosystem.
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For the regional MRO industry, the potential induction of a sizeable Bombardier fleet is expected to generate new opportunities for OEM-authorised service providers, independent maintenance organisations and supply chain partners as operators increasingly seek localised maintenance capabilities and lifecycle support.
The announcement also reflects the broader momentum behind business aviation growth in the Middle East, where fleet expansion is driving increased investment in maintenance infrastructure, technical expertise and high-value aftermarket services to support next-generation business jets.
