Ancala-backed Avincis secures future growth with additional aircraft

The order includes 15 Airbus five-bladed H145s and 15 Leonardo aircraft, 5 AW139s and 10 AW169s with deliveries expected over the 2028-2031 period. This range of assets will address the diverse needs of Avincis’ global customer base, which requires aircraft with capabilities to deliver a range of services from search and rescue, helicopter emergency medical services and medevac to offshore energy support.

Three of the new AW169s under this agreement are destined for Sweden where Avincis has been awarded the joint Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) contract from Region Uppsala and Västra Götalandsregionen. This marks the first-ever joint HEMS tender between the Swedish regions and the largest HEMS contract in Sweden by value.

Under the new contract, Avincis will operate for a period of up to 10 years. Each of the regions will have a dedicated AW169 aircraft, with a third helicopter serving as a shared backup to maximise operational continuity.

Avincis brings deep expertise to this contract, holding longstanding relationships with both customers. Region Uppsala has been a customer since 2004, marking more than two decades of collaboration, and Västra Götalandsregionen has partnered with Avincis since 2018, benefiting from reliable and high quality service delivery.

John Boag, CEO, Avincis Group, said:

“This significant order represents the confidence we have in the potential of the emergency aerial services market and will support our pipeline of growth going forward. We have listened to our customers, and we believe this combination of Airbus and Leonardo aircraft will meet their future requirements. Our new contract with the regions of Uppsala and Västra Götalandsregionen demonstrates that our strategy is already working.

“We also firmly believe that owning aircraft is a core strength of our business, giving us greater control over availability, configuration and long-term cost efficiency, while enabling us to respond more effectively to our customers’ evolving needs.We look forward to continuing our successful partnerships with Airbus and Leonardo as we modernise our fleet for the future.”

Matthieu Louvot, CEO, Airbus Helicopters, added:

“We are honoured that Avincis is once again turning to the H145 to support its vital missions across Europe. This agreement underscores the versatility of the H145 as a multi-mission powerhouse, capable of transitioning seamlessly from life-saving EMS duties to the demanding requirements of offshore wind and energy transport. Our goal is to provide Avincis with the most reliable and efficient tools to ensure their mission success, no matter how complex the operational environment.”

Andrea Mirteto, SVP Sales EMEA, Leonardo, commented:

“We are grateful to Avincis for the continued trust they place in Leonardo and our helicopter solutions. This agreement further strengthens our longstanding partnership dedicated to supporting critical emergency medical services across Europe. As the HEMS market continues to grow and increasingly shifts towards larger, more capable aircraft, the AW169 and AW139 are proving to be the platforms of choice for operators seeking enhanced mission performance, greater cabin space and increased operational flexibility.

“We are proud to support Avincis with helicopter solutions that are already aligned with the evolving requirements of emergency medical missions, helping crews deliver the highest levels of care and responsiveness wherever they are needed.”

The total Avincis fleet currently consists of around 210 aircraft (170 helicopters / 40 aeroplanes). This includes approximately 60 Airbus aircraft – a mix of Super Pumas, H145s, H135s and AS350/355s. The Super Pumas are predominantly used for firefighting and SAR; the H145s and H135s mostly for HEMS and offshore energy; the lighter AS350/355s are used for surveillance and firefighting.

The fleet also includes almost 70 Leonardo aircraft, making Avincis one of the largest Leonardo civil rotorcraft technology users in Europe. The majority are AW139s which are mostly deployed for Helicopter Medical Emergency Services (HEMS), Search and Rescue (SAR) and offshore energy missions. These are complemented by AW169s and AW109s. Avincis was one of the first operators to introduce the AW169 latest generation light-intermediate type into its fleet. At the end of 2025, Avincis also became the first operator in the world to surpass 5,000 flying hours on the Leonardo AW169, with an aircraft based in Sweden.

Ancala acquired Avincis in 2023 through a highly complex carve-out from Babcock International. Since then, Ancala has worked closely with management to establish Avincis as a standalone business and build on its industry-leading position through optimising operations and enabling growth, including the acquisition of KN Helicopters in Denmark, which expanded the company into the offshore wind sector.