Equinor Awards Lufttransport as Operator for 5 New Helicopters

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HOUSTON, TEXAS (Editors at Energy Analytics Institute, 31.Jan.2025) — Equinor awarded Tromsø-based Lufttransport RW AS the assignment of operating 5 new helicopters from manufacturer Leonardo to be used to transport passengers on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) from Sola and Florø. The helicopters are type AW189 aircraft, which are part of a new generation of helicopters that will be operating on the NCS.

The 2 first helicopters will arrive in Norway in spring 2025, and will gradually commence operations over the course of the summer and autumn. The remaining 3 helicopters will be delivered and put to use in 2026, the Norwegian company announced 31 Jan. 2025 in an official statement.

Last year, Equinor signed agreements to procure 15 new helicopters, aimed at reducing reliance on the single model currently in use. In addition to the 5 helicopters from Leonardo, Bell will deliver 10 Bell 525 helicopters starting from 2026.

The contract with Norwegian company Lufttransport is the first operator agreement after the new helicopters were ordered, also for the purpose of supplementing the current Sikorsky S-92.

Lufttransport has extensive experience in dealing with challenging Norwegian conditions, their safety record is good and both the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and Equinor have deemed the company qualified to carry out offshore flights. The company will also conduct search and rescue operations for Equinor starting in early 2026, under a contract awarded one year ago, Equinor said.

The AW189 helicopters from Leonardo represent a newer type of helicopter with thoroughly tested technology and excellent safety. This particular helicopter type is used throughout the offshore industry worldwide. The AW189 also features good passenger comfort, noise reduction and lower emissions, in addition to good support systems for the pilots.

Assuming ownership

Equinor has also entered into an agreement with Milestone Aviation Group, the global leader in helicopter leasing. The company will assume ownership of the AW189 helicopters when they are handed over by Leonardo.

“Through this agreement, we’ve secured long-term rights to manage these helicopters ourselves, and the contract with Lufttransport gives us a third operator for shuttle services on the NCS, alongside CHC and Bristow. We’ve managed to put a set of innovative agreements in place to ensure that we have good technical solutions that provide more robust operations,” Equinor’s senior vice president supply chain management Mette Ottøy said in the statement.

The fixed agreement with Lufttransport has a duration of around 7 years, with options totaling 6 years. The total value of the contract, including options, is estimated at around 7bn Norwegian kroner.

The agreement with Milestone has an estimated total value of just over 2bnn Norwegian kroner for a contract duration of up to 20 years.

Union involvement

The trade unions in Equinor, including the safety delegate service, have been involved in the process and take a positive view of the helicopter type that has been selected, Equinor said.

“These helicopters have the quality and characteristics that we want on the NCS. These new helicopter types have been developed with focus on safety, improved comfort, less noise and less vibration,” trade unions said in a joint statement:

Facts

Equinor has an extensive aviation program and transports offshore employees to installations on the NCS. Round-trip journeys to/from the NCS amount to 160,000 flights per year, or more than 24,000 annual flying hours.

Over the next few years, Equinor will receive 10 new Bell525 helicopters, and five Leonardo AW189s.

The first two helicopters will be delivered from Leonardo in the first quarter of 2025. Then, in 2026, Leonardo will deliver three and Bell will deliver four helicopters. The remaining six helicopters from Bell will be delivered during the period from 2027-2030.

AW189 and Bell525 are both super medium-type helicopters, with 16 passenger seats available. The helicopters will be equipped for the conditions they will face and the stringent requirements in force on the NCS.

Leonardo AW189 is manufactured by the Italian conglomerate Leonardo, which also manufactures the AW139. Equinor will use the AW139 for search and rescue starting from 2026, also with Lufttransport as operator. Both are well-known helicopter types in the global offshore industry.

Since 2016, Equinor has used Sikorsky S-92 helicopters for personnel transport and search and rescue services on the NCS (since moving away from the EC225).

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By Editors at Energy Analytics Institute. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved. 

ENERGY ANALYTICS INSTITUTE (EAI) https://energy-analytics-institute.org

Energy Analytics Institute (EAI), formerly LatinPetroleum.com, is a Houston-established private organization with a satellite presence in Calgary, Mexico City and Venezuela where it operates under Editores LatinPetroleum SA. Since 1999, EAI has been a leader in energy news coverage of Latin America in particular. Coverage, run out of Latin America, now spans the world and encompasses nearly all energy and energy-related sectors.

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