Leonardo is capitalizing on rising demand for corporate and VIP helicopter, with multiple orders set to be announced this week at EBACE 2025. Contract signings are anticipated for at least two models and from customers in Europe and Asia
The Italian group is the only aircraft manufacturer exhibiting at this year’s new-format EBACE show in Geneva, where it is displaying an example of the AW109 Trekker multirole helicopter on the convention show floor. It is seeing healthy demand for its AW139 and AW169, with all models having been boosted by the relaunch of its Agusta VIP helicopter brand in 2021. Leonardo is also marketing the 30th anniversary of its partnership with UK and Ireland distributor Sloane Helicopters this month.
According to Leonardo VVIP and corporate unit senior sales and marketing manager Manuela Barbarossa, orders in this sector have been increasing over the past five or six years. “The market is reacting significantly to the need for individuals and businesses to have point-to-point travel connections,” she told AIN.
Increasingly, customers are viewing helicopters not just as transportation tool but as a good investment asset, Barbarossa explained, adding. “When they are not using the aircraft themselves, they can let an operator use it for charter flights and this attracts a new generation of customers who may charter first and then convert to ownership later.”
This shared-use model which offsets some of the cost of helicopter ownership is more fiscally viable in some countries than others. Lately, Leonardo has seen the strongest European demand in the UK, and other markets seeing growth include Mexico, South America, northeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.
In the Mood for a Helicopter?
In Leonardo’s experience, customers buying helicopters for personal use tend to be the most demanding because they view the aircraft as an extension of their lifestyle, and sometimes bring family groups to the manufacturer to specify cabin interiors and other features. Around half of current sales fall into this category for the manufacturer, with most of the rest being a mix of charter, utility, and cargo roles.
To help clients define the look and feel of their helicopters, Leonardo’s design team has introduced “mood boxes” that present multiple options for interior materials and colors. These can be viewed this week at Leonardo’s EBACE exhibit, along with cabin mockups developed to reflect the mood of cities including Florence, Italy; Fortaleza, Brazil; Tokyo; London; and New York.
Meanwhile, to help ensure that operating costs are predictable for customers, Leonardo provides its Agusta For You service packages that cover all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. “It covers everything, and for the AW139 includes avionics, so there are no surprises and all costs are fully defined,” Barbarossa said.
Leonardo is capitalizing on rising demand for corporate and VIP helicopter, with multiple orders announced during EBACE 2025.
The Italian helicopter manufacturer marked the opening of the EBACE show in Geneva with an order for three more AW109 Trekkers from its long-time distributor for the UK and Ireland, Sloane Helicopters, as the Northampton-based company approached its 109th sale of the light-twin helicopter. At the same time, Sloane and Leonardo celebrated the 30-year milestone of their partnership.
Slated for delivery in 2027, the booking for three VIP-configured helicopters comes in addition to the five AW109 GrandNews that Sloane ordered during the recent Verticon in March in Dallas. Under the Sloane partnership, more than 100 Leonardo commercial helicopters have been delivered to operators in the UK and Ireland.
In addition, Leonardo Helicopters’ Indian distributor, Universal Vulkaan Aviation (UVA) is adding a pair of AW169 light twins to its inventory. The companies also announced the orders during EBACE 2025, with deliveries from Italy anticipated in September and next summer.
New Delhi-based UVA’s partnership with Leonardo was launched at the 2024 EBACE show. It has previously placed orders for three AW169s, an AW139, and an AW109—all in a VIP/corporate configuration. According to UVA director Harinder Commar, India’s rising economy is driving demand for helicopters from corporations and wealthy individuals. During an event to sign the contract, he told reporters that private rotorcraft charter flight activity is also increasing, especially in states such as Uttar Pradesh, where some operators are logging as many as 600 hours each year.
The Italian group was the only in-production aircraft manufacturer exhibiting at the new-format EBACE show in Geneva, where it displayed the AW109 Trekker multirole helicopter on the convention show floor. It is seeing healthy demand for its AW139 and AW169, with all models having been boosted by the relaunch of its Agusta VIP helicopter brand in 2021. Leonardo is also marketing the 30th anniversary of its partnership with UK and Ireland distributor Sloane Helicopters this month.
According to Leonardo VVIP and corporate unit senior sales and marketing manager Manuela Barbarossa, orders in this sector have been increasing over the past five or six years. “The market is reacting significantly to the need for individuals and businesses to have point-to-point travel connections,” she told AIN.
Increasingly, customers are viewing helicopters not just as a transportation tool but as a good investment asset, Barbarossa explained, adding. “When they are not using the aircraft themselves, they can let an operator use it for charter flights, and this attracts a new generation of customers who may charter first and then convert to ownership later.”
This shared-use model, which offsets some of the cost of helicopter ownership, is more fiscally viable in some countries than others. Lately, Leonardo has seen the strongest European demand in the UK, and other markets seeing growth include Mexico, South America, northeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.