Anaheim, California, Heli-Expo 2024, February 28, 2024 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Helicopters and Bristow Group announced a framework contract for up to fifteen H135 helicopters (five firm orders, plus 10 options) during this year’s HAI Heli-Expo. The delivery of the first helicopter is scheduled for October 2024.

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy companies and government entities. Bristow’s aviation services include personnel transportation, SAR, medevac, fixed-wing transportation, unmanned systems, and ad hoc helicopter services. Bristow already operates a fleet of 10 H135 family helicopters.

The light twin Airbus H135 incorporates the most advanced technologies available, including Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite, which, in addition to the 4-axis autopilot, offers an innovative cockpit layout to enhance situational awareness. Designed with three large electronic displays on the H135, the cockpit is night vision goggle compatible and includes a First Limit Indicator which highlights the appropriate engine instrument data for the pilot in one indicator.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stockholm, Sweden, February 27, 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has completed the modernisation and upgrade of 270 models C20 cars for Stockholm metro, a project initiated in 2017.  The last car is now leaving the workshop in Västerås to return to Stockholm, fully prepared for passenger service.  

The modernisation programme emphasises the extensive reuse of materials to achieve environmental and cost-saving benefits. Additionally, the interior layout has been updated with an open design and new seating arrangements, facilitating quicker boarding and disembarking, and new passenger information systems, enhancing the passenger experience.

The project was carried out in close collaboration with Alstom’s customer MTR and the end customer SL.

Project facts

• Alstom has modernised a total of 270 model C20 cars for the Stockholm metro.
• The work was performed at Alstom’s Västerås workshop.
• The project has been in progress since 2017, employing 110 fitters and 25 engineers, along with several local subcontractors in Västerås.
• The upgrade includes the reuse of materials, refurbished seats, new passenger information systems, more handrails, and more safety cameras than before.
• The new open design facilitates boarding and disembarking.
• In total, 27,540 seats have been installed, 110,160 screws used, and 240 kilometres of cable laid.

Alstom is the largest supplier to the Swedish train market, with over a thousand trains delivered to the Swedish railways and several major maintenance contracts. Alstom also leads the implementation of the ERTMS signalling system in Sweden, both onboard and along the tracks, and delivers the new national traffic management system for the Swedish Transport Administration.

Rome, Italy, February 27, 2024 – Leonardo and Sloane announced at Heli-Expo 2024 a major reinforcement of their collaboration in the UK and Ireland commercial helicopter market with the signing of Preliminary Sales Contracts for nine AW09 next-generation single engine aircraft, and new orders for two AW109 Grand New and two AW109 Trekker light twins.

The Preliminary Sales Contracts for the AW09 add Sloane to the number of global partners who have chosen the all-new type. Sloane joins the consensus around the AW09 programme and market potential and, as established European distributors of Leonardo helicopters, are intending to extend their collaboration and distributorship mandates to include the AW09 in the continent. With this latest achievement, the AW09 world market success extends to UK and Ireland following announcements of partnerships and distribution agreements already made in North and Latin America, Africa and Asia in 2023, some leading to end-user orders. The total number of Preliminary Sales Contracts will soon exceed 100 units globally.

The AW09 continues to generate a very positive response from all geographies worldwide as the program development progresses. Rotorcraft companies highly welcome the AW09 for its outstanding characteristics and multirole capabilities that represent a significant evolution compared to existing products in this category. The AW09 perfectly complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single-segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. A full-scale mock-up of the cabin, together with the advanced connectivity and digital features of the type, is on display at the Leonardo booth at Heli-Expo, attracting lots of interest within the rotorcraft community thanks to its distinguished features in cabin space and ergonomics, and external footprint.

The AW109 series continue to be highly popular in Sloane’s reference markets particularly for VIP/Corporate transport. As the Leonardo’s regional distributor, Sloane has taken delivery of a total 14 AW109’s in the 2022-2023 period and plans to receive six more this year. Under the latest order for four new AW109’s, deliveries are expected to be performed in 2025 and 2026.

In July 2022, Sloane confirmed its Distributor Agreement for the 2022-2024 timeframe, covering both types and the AW169 light intermediate twin model. The long-term success between Sloane Helicopters and Leonardo was established in 1995, when Sloane became the sole distributor of Leonardo VIP/corporate helicopter in the UK and Ireland. Under this collaboration, over 110 Leonardo commercial helicopters have been delivered to operators and private users in the UK and Ireland. The Distributorship Agreement has provided customers with continued benefits by dramatically reducing delivery times and providing customers with product expertise and a full range of support packages, which also helps Leonardo to maintain its position as leader in the executive/private
transport market in the UK and Ireland, among other applications. This has been further reinforced following the launch of the new Agusta VIP brand in late 2021 with its exclusive features and all-new service offer. Sloane Helicopters is also an Authorised Service Centre, providing maintenance and support services for the majority of GrandNew and all AW169 VIP helicopters in the region. Additionally, Sloane is a Type Rating Training centre for Leonardo helicopters in the UK.

Anaheim, California, February 27, 2024 – The Helicopter Company (THC), Saudi Arabia’s premier provider of commercial helicopter services and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, has signed a historic framework agreement with Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) at the HAI Heli-Expo, currently taking place at Anaheim Convention Center, California.

The framework agreement will include up to 120 Airbus helicopters of various types set to be delivered over the next five to seven years. Part of the deal is a firm order for eight H125’s along with 10 H145’s that are converted options from an earlier contract, bringing THC’s total firm Airbus helicopter fleet to 60, 25 of which are already in service today.

The new H125 helicopters will support the delivery of THC’s range of services in areas including aerial work and tourism. The H145’s will be used in a variety of roles including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and corporate transport.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.