The Helicopter Company (THC) of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia has taken delivery of its first Airbus ACH160
helicopter.
The aircraft is the first of six to be supplied by
Airbus Corporate Helicopters in ACH160 Line configuration and will
enter into corporate aviation services with Red Sea Global which
becomes the Middle East launch customer of the ACH160.
THC has also ordered a further four
ACH160s with an option for four more, taking its total commitments
to ten ACH160s, on top of the ten H125 and five H145 helicopters
already delivered and a further 15 H145 helicopters to be
delivered in 2023 and 2024.
“I am
delighted to see the success of THC in building the commercial
helicopter sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and honoured by
the expression of confidence represented by their new orders,”
said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “I congratulate Red Sea Global in putting into service in the
Middle East the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter
with its outstanding levels of comfort and safety.”
The Helicopter Company, established by the Public
Investment Fund (PIF), is the premier helicopter services provider
licensed to operate commercial flights in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
Red Sea Global is the developer behind two of the
world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects – the Red Sea
and Amaala developments on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
The company is at the forefront of developing commercial
helicopter services in the Kingdom and has already introduced the
H145 into service for emergency medical services and deployed both
the H145 and H125 in support of the Dakar Rally.
“THC are
thrilled to receive our first ACH160 to immediately be deployed
for corporate transport services with Red Sea Global on the west
coast of Saudi Arabia,” said Captain Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC.
