THC Orders Eight More Airbus H145 Helicopters at Farnborough

The Helicopter Company (THC) has placed a firm order for eight additional Airbus H145 helicopters to expand its multi-mission fleet and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aviation initiatives. The agreement was announced on July 20, 2026, at the Farnborough International Air-Shows in the United Kingdom.

In a press release issued by Airbus Helicopters, the manufacturer confirmed the new order falls under a framework agreement signed between the two companies in 2024. That agreement established a procurement pipeline for up to 120 Airbus helicopters. Deliveries for the eight newly ordered Airbus H145 aircraft are scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2028.

Fleet expansion and multi-mission capability

THC, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has been rapidly scaling its operations. Prior to this order, the operator’s fleet already included 39 Airbus H145s, alongside 25 Airbus H125s and 11 Airbus H160s, according to reporting by Vertical Magazine and Aviation International News.

The Airbus H145 is utilized for a variety of mission profiles, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), aerial utility, VIP transport, and search-and-rescue operations. THC Chief Executive Officer Captain Arnaud Martinez emphasized the importance of operational flexibility during a media briefing at Farnborough.

“We know that we will have additional aircraft for additional segments, [but] we cannot anticipate all the time by when and on which segment specifically. That’s why we are looking for special multi-mission aircraft with specs that give us until the last minute the agility to decide if we turn left or if we turn right,” Martinez stated, as reported by Vertical Magazine.

Hot and high performance in the Middle East

Operating in Saudi Arabia requires aircraft capable of handling demanding environmental conditions. Airbus Helicopters Chief Executive Officer Matthieu Louvot noted that the Airbus H145 has demonstrated its reliability in the region’s specific climate.

“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,” Louvot said in the official announcement.

The global Airbus H145 family fleet currently encompasses more than 1,800 helicopters in service. According to Airbus data, the aircraft type has accumulated a total of 8.6 million flight hours worldwide. The Farnborough International Airshow served as a backdrop for multiple Airbus rotary-wing announcements on July 20, 2026, including a concurrent order from the United Kingdom National Police Air Service for two Airbus H135 helicopters.

AirPro News analysis

We view THC’s continued investment in the Airbus H145 platform as a clear indicator of the operator’s preference for fleet commonality as it scales rapidly. By exercising options within the 2024 framework agreement rather than introducing new aircraft types, THC minimizes training and maintenance overhead. The emphasis on multi-mission capability reflects the dynamic nature of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector under Vision 2030, where operators must remain agile enough to pivot between commercial tourism, utility work, and critical public services like EMS without requiring specialized, single-purpose airframes.

Sources: Airbus Helicopters