LCI orders nine Leonardo AW helicopters

Lease Corporation International (LCI) has ordered a further nine helicopters from Leonardo valued at $120 million.

The new order comprises entirely new generation AgustaWestland helicopters the AW139, AW169 and  AW189. The helicopters will start this year and continue into 2018.

Five AW169s and one AW139 are set to deliver within the month to be deployed on search and rescue, maritime pilot transfers, emergency medical services and training and utility missions.

Crispin Maunder, executive chairman of LCI, said: “Today’s order marks just an interim stage in our continued long term fleet development plan. We are seeing a resurgence of demand for modern, cost-effective helicopters across a range of different sectors, and this additional follow-on order underscores our confidence in the market and ensures that LCI has the right size and mix of helicopter fleet to fulfil our customers’ near term requirements.

“The record number of helicopters we have taken delivery of and placed on lease this month alone is a clear demonstration of the continuing strength and diversity of demand in the helicopter market and in particular that for Leonardo helicopters.”

This order adds to previous orders the lessor has placed with Leonardo. LCI’s orderbook now totals 49 aircraft.

Michael Platt, chief executive officer of LCI, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our longstanding partnership with Leonardo, whose versatile and innovative aircraft are proving highly popular with the leading helicopter operators we work with across the globe. LCI’s fast-growing fleet is balanced across a diverse range of sectors which now includes HEMS, wind energy, oil and gas, marine pilot transfer, search and rescue, mining and training.”