Helicopter lessor LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL) have delivered two new Leonardo AW169 helicopters via their joint venture to Italian helicopter operator Alidaunia. The air ambulance-configured helicopters will be based in Naples and Salerno for operations in Italy’s Campania region.
“Alidaunia is a highly experienced provider of helicopter services, and LCI is proud to be supporting their growing emergency medical services operation. With over half of our fleet deployed on mission-critical operations, we have the technical and operational experience to help them deliver this vital service for the people of Campania,” said LCI CEO Crispin Maunder.
LCI and SMFL’s joint-venture portfolio now totals 38 units valued at more than $420 million—a doubling in size in less than two years from when it was launched in September 2020 with 19 aircraft. Since its inception in 2004, LCI has booked more than $8 billion in aviation business. It currently operates a fleet of some 140 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, with an additional 125 units on order. LCI’s rotorcraft fleet—focused on medium and super medium helicopters manufactured by Leonardo, Airbus Helicopters, and Sikorsky—operates on four continents in sectors including emergency medical services, offshore wind, search and rescue, maritime pilot transfer, and energy sector transportation.