The Helicopter Company has signed for up to 60 Bombardier jets.
The Saudi rotary-wing operator agreed the letter of intent at Farnborough on 21 July 2026. The firm portion covers 12 aircraft. It comprises five Challenger 3500s, five Global 5500s and two Global 8000s. Options for a further 48 aircraft take the total to 60. Bombardier chief executive Éric Martel and chairman Pierre Beaudoin attended the signing.
The Helicopter Company is Saudi Arabia's largest commercial helicopter operator. It is a Public Investment Fund company, backed by the sovereign wealth vehicle behind the kingdom's Vision 2030 programme. The move takes the operator from rotary-wing services into fixed-wing business flying. It intends to serve growing local demand for private charter across the super-midsize, long-range and ultra-long-range segments.
Aviation International News reported the firm order at $561.5m at list prices. The full 60-aircraft potential brings the value to $2.81 billion, again at list. Delivery timing has not been disclosed. The customer will operate the fleet under a new business aviation brand alongside its existing helicopter services.
The three Bombardier lines cover the super-midsize (Challenger 3500), long-range (Global 5500) and ultra-long-range (Global 8000) segments. All three aircraft are currently in production. The Global 8000 entered service in 2025 after certification by Transport Canada, the FAA and EASA.
Captain Arnaud Martinez, chief executive of the Helicopter Company, signed alongside Muhammad Ovais Yousuf, the Public Investment Fund's head of aviation and security. The ceremony was held at Bombardier's Farnborough chalet on Airshow Day 2. Farnborough International Airshow 2026 runs until Friday 24 July.
Source: Bombardier press release, 21 July 2026; Aviation International News, 21 July 2026.