Airbus Helicopters and LCI forge a new Flight Path alliance, revealing ambitious collaboration
Leading Aviation Company LCI Partners with Airbus Helicopters for Sustainable Growth
In a significant move towards sustainable growth, LCI, a leading aviation company, has formed a partnership with Airbus Helicopters. This partnership, built upon a 20-year relationship between the companies, aligns with LCI's long-term commitment to sustainable growth and Airbus Helicopters' ambitious sustainability goals.
The new partnership is poised to address the long-term capacity, sustainability, and financing requirements of the helicopter industry. LCI has ordered five new Airbus H145 helicopters, with the first two set to be delivered by the end of March 2024 and operated in Oceania. Additionally, LCI has ordered two H175 helicopters, with the two units scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2024 and set to be operated in South America.
Airbus Helicopters reported strong performance in its helicopter segment in the first half of 2025, despite broader supply chain challenges affecting commercial aircraft. The demand for helicopters remains robust, with Airbus predicting a demand for over 16,000 new helicopters by 2041, valued at approximately $130 billion. The H145 and H175 models, central to Airbus Helicopters’ production and market strategy, are expected to play a significant role in meeting this demand.
The H145 and H175 models are versatile choices across various civil, law enforcement, and emergency medical services applications. These models are part of the fleet benefiting from Airbus’s sustainability initiatives, including improved fuel efficiency and potential future integration of hybrid or electric propulsion technologies, aligning with commitments to reduce the environmental impact of its products.
Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 as part of its carbon reduction strategy. This includes ambitious near-term targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), such as a 20% energy reduction and 63% Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions reduction by 2030 (compared to a 2015 baseline), compensation of all corporate air travel emissions, and support for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen, and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies as part of an industry-wide energy transition.
Moreover, Airbus promotes circular economy principles by increasing the recycling and reuse of key aircraft materials like titanium and aluminum to reduce waste and emissions in manufacturing. This commitment to sustainability is shared by LCI, a signatory of Aircraft Leasing Ireland’s Sustainability Charter.
Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, stated that the partnership signals a commitment to deliver long-term, sustainable capacity solutions to the market. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, echoed this sentiment, stating that the partnership is a natural elevation of their relationship and reflects their shared capabilities. This partnership will leverage the combined knowledge, experience, and analytical capabilities of LCI and Airbus Helicopters to identify necessary infrastructure and financial innovations.
In summary, the partnership between LCI and Airbus Helicopters is positioned to meet rising helicopter demand with the proven H145 and H175 models, while fully embracing Airbus’s broader sustainability ambitions, including carbon neutrality goals by 2050 and material circularity in manufacturing. This partnership is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the helicopter industry.
- With LCI ordering five Airbus H145 helicopters and two H175 helicopters, this partnership between the two companies offers a financial investment in the technology sector, specifically the aerospace industry, as they aim to address the long-term capacity and sustainability requirements of the helicopter industry.
- The sustainability goals of both LCI and Airbus Helicopters, such as the integration of hybrid or electric propulsion technologies, align well with the broader finance and technology trends focused on reducing the environmental impact of products and achieving carbon neutrality, which are critical in various sectors, including aviation and manufacturing.