At Verticon 2025, a prime exhibition for the world’s rotorcraft industry and community, Leonardo announced further growth within the commercial helicopter market, with new orders for nearly 30 helicopters of various models to several operators across Europe, Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific primarily for energy support, rescue and public service duties, VIP transport operations. Combined orders for the AW109 GrandNew, AW169, AW139, and AW189 types have a total value of approximately 370 million EUR, with deliveries between 2026 and 2028. These orders add to preliminary sales contracts for 15 AW09 next-generation single-engine helicopters for European and Southeast Asian customers. Moreover, Leonardo also announced the entry into new markets, particularly supporting the energy industry and rescue missions with the AW169 and AW189 and the latest simulation technologies for pilot training, including the VxR virtual and extended reality pilot simulator.
This year, the energy industry was the primary market focal point. With nearly 500 helicopters of various types in service today to perform offshore transport and an unrivaled level of deliveries by value over the last ten years—60% share in the previous five—Leonardo is the market leader for energy support.
Offshore operations require high aircraft availability rates, with many flight hours logged by the helicopters used for this task. Leveraging data gathering and analysis from the demanding offshore market and its intensive operations enables Leonardo to enhance further the overall service quality, product, and training capabilities of various models across all other applications. The energy support market is expected to steadily increase over the next five years, driven by new field developments (including wind farm support, harbor pilot shuttle, and dedicated offshore SAR assisting the energy sector), in compliance with new environmental regulations, and adopting more advanced technologies. Intermediate and super medium twin-weight categories – like the Leonardo AW139 and AW189, respectively – are ideally positioned to continue to lead this market for long-range operations, outperforming aging heavier and bigger types. Contracts and milestones announced at Verticon provide further evidence of this performance and of the market response. Gama Aviation ordered two AW139s in the UK. Three units were purchased by China General Aviation Company (CGAC) as the Chinese civil AW139 fleet continues to expand with the recent arrival of three aircraft for CITIC Offshore Helicopter Company (COHC). The AW139 remains a bestseller in its class for multiple applications, nearing 1500 orders for all applications by customers worldwide today since it entered the market in 2004.
Last year and in early 2025, the AW189 global fleet was expanded with new orders and deliveries, with Norway becoming one of the key regions. A contract signed by Norwegian operator Lufttransport at Verticon for two AW189s to deliver long-range/high-capacity missions in demanding conditions in the Norwegian continental shelf confirms this trend. The exhibition in Dallas also marked the first order for the new skidded variant of the AW169 helicopter in the energy market with a contract for five units by Petroleum Air Services (PAS) of Egypt. At the same time, Sabine Harbor Pilots announced the intention to leverage two in-service AW169s from HeliService USA to deliver Harbor Pilot Shuttle (HPS) services in Texas, the first of this kind for the type in North America.
The versatility and continued capability growth of the AW169 continue to be among the key factors of its market success for rescue duties. At Verticon, Leonardo announced the first civil order in Europe and the Emergency Medical Service sector globally for the latest variant featuring a combination of skid undercarriage and a 5.1t Increased Gross Weight (IGW). Gama Aviation signed this contract for three helicopters in the UK, which will benefit from up to 300kg of additional payload and better capabilities on unprepared terrains, thus allowing an even greater level of mission flexibility and effectiveness for life-saving duties.
Parkview Samaritan ordered an AW169 in the USA for their critical care transport program. The most successful EMS helicopter in Australia with around 50 units in service, the AW139 is set to play an even more crucial role with a new order for four more aircraft by LifeFlight and joint venture partner StarFlight to carry out emergency medical service, law enforcement, oil and gas operations and search and rescue response missions in Australia. In addition, North Slope Borough (NSB) of Alaska announced that two AW189s will deliver all-weather EMS and SAR across its expansive 95,000-square-mile service area, located entirely above the Arctic Circle.
The world leader in the multi-engine VIP/corporate market, Leonardo continues to expand its presence in this sector through its exclusive Agusta brand, with multiple orders announced by operators during the exhibition. Sloane of the UK will add five more AW109 GrandNew light twins, celebrating 30 years of partnership as Leonardo’s official distributor for the UK and Ireland. Aero Asahi signed for two AW169s, expanding the type’s presence in the Japanese passenger transport market.
In Japan, the distributorship agreement with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace is renewed as the Japanese partner also commits for eleven helicopters – in a mix of AW169, AW139 and AW189 – over the 20252027 period.
Synerjet Latina SA, the official distributor of Leonardo civil helicopters for Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Paraguay, placed an order for two AW169s in utility configuration and was appointed an official distributor for the next-generation AW09 single-engine helicopter in the relevant markets. As the program development progresses, this new type continues to generate positive feedback from all geographies worldwide. The total number of preliminary sales contracts for the AW09 now is close to 130 units globally, with Helitech Asia and Kaan Air of Turkey announcing ten and five units, respectively, during the show.
“In recent years we have continued to focus on a modern product mix featuring latest technologies, with constantly growing capabilities and meeting or exceeding the most rigorous certification and safety standards. We’ve maintained a strong commitment to sustainability, and bearing in mind the importance of the level of service to make sure our customers can get the most out of our value proposition,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, MD Leonardo Helicopters. “Going progressively digital also continues to be a key driver, truly 360°: on board, on maintenance, on training. The latest announcements at Verticon testify we’re on the right path to further increase our competitive advantage as we keep working towards a constant enhancement of our offer.”
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