Heli charters in Indonesia fuelled by city flights and tourists
Chapman Freeborn's Saladin Siregar expects to see further growth in passenger and cargo heli charter demand over the next five years, (Photocredit: Chapman Freeborn).
Helicopter charter in Indonesia is being fuelled by flights around cities and to tourist destinations, according to Saladin Siregar, key account management for Passenger Air Chartering, APAC at global charter specialist Chapman Freeborn.
Charter demand is growing not just in Indonesia but throughout the Asia Pacific (APAC) countries. “VIP and corporate transport via helicopter charter is growing, especially in Jakarta and Bali,” said Siregar. “In congested cities, helicopters provide faster and more reliable travel, which makes passenger helicopter charters popular with both businesses and tourists. In terms of the business sector, executives and project teams are making use of Chapman Freeborn’s chartering services.”
The civil turbine rotary fleet has shown 10 years of steady growth. Between 2014 and 2024, it expanded from 3,287 helicopters up to 4,131 assets with a compound annual growth rate of (CAGR) of 2.3%, revealed research by Asian Sky Group.
Indonesia’s civil helicopter fleet of 154 airframes represents 3.7% of the region’s total and is the largest fleet in Southeast Asia. This contribution directly reflects the country’s geography.
“Indonesia is vast and its geography is complex and unique,” said Siregar. “It is a country of over 17,000 islands, and many locations are extremely remote and difficult to access due to challenging terrain.” Outside urban areas, there are many locations where road or sea connections are impractical fuelling demand for point-to-point helicopter transport.
Offshore flights
Helicopter flights in Indonesia were divided mainly between multi-mission operations and a mixture of corporate or private hire and offshore flights with charters accounting for more than 15% of all missions.
There were also a small number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR), law enforcement, and training flights. The recent Blueberry Aviation 2025 HEMS Market Report identified 194 EMS helicopters in Eastern Asia and 114 in Australia.
The expansion of heavy industry, often in remote areas, is another sector driving the growth of helicopter charters, according to Chapman Freeborn. “There were over 4,600 active mining permits in Indonesia in 2024,” said Siregar. “There are thousands of energy facilities and power plants spread across the country, including many small diesel plants and multiple oil and gas facilities. Many industrial sectors are expanding.”
For example, there’s significant growth in nickel and copper smelters, and in refineries in difficult to access areas. “The transportation of mission-critical crew and cargo to these sites is often time sensitive, making helicopter charters the most viable and convenient option,” he said.
Infrastructure challenges
Over the near term, Chapman Freeborn APAC expects industrial growth to be frustrated by persistent infrastructure challenges. That should boost the growth of helicopter charter market even more. “We expect to see a further increase in passenger and cargo helicopter charter demand over the next five years,” according to Siregard. The business is also looking at opportunities to expand passenger air chartering services for the corporate and VIP markets.
Overall, he believes helicopters add up to a compelling transport proposition for Indonesia. “Whether it is tourism, corporate travel, or accessing remote industrial facilities, helicopters provide unmatched access and flexibility. They help executives avoid city congestion and enable teams to mobilize rapidly to remote industrial sites,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chapman Freeborn, part of Avia Solutions Group, provides air cargo charter services for major corporations, governments, non-government organisations, relief agencies and high net-worth individuals.
