Commercial Helicopter Market Size & Growth Analysis to 2030

The global commercial helicopter market size is expected to experience a significant CAGR of around 6% during the forecast period 2022 to 2028. The increasing use of helicopters in various end-use industries such as emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and public safety are some major factors driving the market growth. Furthermore, technological advancement and the replacement of older helicopters with new advanced models are further anticipated to fuel market growth. However, the high maintenance cost, security concerns, and the increasing adoption of drones in various commercial applications are some factors expected to restrain the market growth.

Market Drivers:

Growing Demand for Air Transportation: The increasing need for efficient and versatile transportation solutions drives the demand for commercial helicopters. Helicopters offer unique capabilities such as vertical takeoff and landing, hover capability, and access to remote areas, making them suitable for various applications, including passenger transport, emergency medical services, search and rescue, offshore operations, and aerial work.

Advancements in Technology and Innovation: Technological advancements in helicopter design, avionics, propulsion systems, and materials have improved performance, safety, and efficiency. Innovations such as composite materials, advanced navigation systems, and enhanced safety features contribute to the market growth by providing operators with more capable and reliable helicopters.

Urban Air Mobility and Future Mobility Concepts: The concept of urban air mobility (UAM) envisions the use of helicopters and other aircraft for intra-city transportation. As urban areas become more congested, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative transportation modes, including helicopter-based UAM solutions. The potential for UAM and future mobility concepts drives the demand for commercial helicopters.

Offshore Oil and Gas Industry: The offshore oil and gas industry heavily relies on helicopters for personnel transfer, logistics support, and emergency response operations. The exploration and production activities in offshore oil and gas fields create a consistent demand for commercial helicopters tailored for offshore operations, contributing to market growth.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Helicopters play a vital role in emergency medical services, providing rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients from remote areas or accident scenes to medical facilities. The demand for EMS helicopters is driven by the need for timely and efficient medical transportation, particularly in regions with limited ground transportation infrastructure.

Tourism and Leisure Activities: Helicopter tours and aerial sightseeing activities are popular in many tourist destinations worldwide. The demand for commercial helicopters in the tourism and leisure sector is driven by the desire for unique experiences, scenic views, and efficient transportation for tourists.

Military and Defense Applications: The military and defense sector is a significant driver for the commercial helicopter market. Helicopters serve a variety of roles in military operations, including troop transport, reconnaissance, cargo transport, and combat support. Government defense budgets and geopolitical factors influence the demand for military helicopters, which often have civilian variants used for commercial purposes.

Infrastructure Development and Construction: Helicopters are used in infrastructure development projects, including aerial surveys, power line inspection, construction site logistics, and transportation of construction personnel and equipment to remote or inaccessible areas. The growth in infrastructure development and construction activities drives the demand for commercial helicopters.

Regulatory and Safety Standards: The establishment and enforcement of regulatory and safety standards play a critical role in shaping the commercial helicopter market. Governments and regulatory bodies implement rules and regulations to ensure safe operations, maintenance standards, and pilot qualifications. Compliance with these standards is essential for helicopter operators and manufacturers, influencing market dynamics.

Market Snapshot:

Market Insights:

The global commercial helicopters market is bifurcated into type, number of engines, application, and geography. On the basis of type, the market is further segmented into lightweight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight commercial helicopters. The medium-weight commercial helicopters segment dominated the global market in 2021 and is expected to hold the largest revenue share of around half of the market by the end of the analysis period. The increasing use of medium weight commercial helicopters in various applications such as search and rescue operations, transportation, and other medical services is a major factor to drive the segment growth. On the flip side, the heavy weight segment is accounted to register the fastest growth rate over the forecast period.

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into oil & gas, medical services, transport, law enforcement & public safety, and others. The law enforcement & public safety segment dominated the global commercial helicopters market in 2021 and is expected to hold the largest revenue share of around one-third market share by the end of the analysis period. The increasing use of rotorcraft in various enforcement applications such as police mission and other medical evacuations is one of the key factor to drive the segment growth. On the other hand, the medical service segment is accounted to grow at the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. The increasing demand for air ambulances across the globe is a major factor to drive the segment growth.

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The commercial helicopter comprehensive study analyzes industry trends, market size, competitive analysis, and market forecast – 2022 to 2028. Research Corridor report provides detailed premium insight into the global market and reveals the potential revenue streams, commercial prospects, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, issues, and events affecting the industry. In addition, the report has a dedicated section covering market forecasts and analysis for leading geographies, profiles of major companies operating in the market and expert opinion obtained from interviews with industry executives and experts from prominent companies.

The commercial helicopter market research report presents the analysis of each segment from 2019 to 2028 considering 2020 as the base year for the research. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each respective segment is calculated for the forecast period from 2021 to 2027.

Historical & Forecast Period

• 2019-20 – Historical Year
• 2021 – Base Year
• 2022-2028 – Forecast Period

Market Segmentation:

By Type:

• Light-Weight
• Medium-Weight
• Heavy-Weight

By Number of Engines:

• Single-engine
• Multi-engine

By Application:

• Oil & Gas
• Medical Services
• Transport
• Law Enforcement & Public Safety
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa

Regional Analysis:

Geographically, Europe held the largest share of the global commercial helicopters market in 2021 and accounted to hold a significant revenue share of over one-third share of the global market. The increasing replacement of the aging fleet with the new advanced helicopters is one of the prominent factor to drive the market growth in the region. Furthermore, the increasing investment by operators in new and advanced helicopters is anticipated to fuel the market growth in Europe. In May 2021, Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) plans to replace its existing fleet of Airbus H145 D2 helicopters with the latest variants by 2023. On the flip side, the Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.

Competitive Assessment:

Some of the major market players operating in the global commercial helicopter market are Airbus S.A.S., Leonardo S.P.A., Textron Inc., Robinson Helicopter Company, and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Companies are exploring markets through expansion, new investment, the introduction of new services, and collaboration as their preferred strategies. Players are exploring new geography through expansion and acquisition to gain a competitive advantage through joint synergy.

Key Companies:

• Airbus S.A.S.
• Leonardo S.P.A.
• Textron Inc.
• Robinson Helicopter Company
• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
• Enstrom Helicopter Corp.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Schweizer RSG
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd
• MD Helicopters, Inc.

Key Questions Answered by Commercial Helicopter Market Report

• Global commercial helicopter market forecasts from 2022-2028
• Regional market forecasts from 2022-2028 covering Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America
• Country-level forecasts from 2022-2028 covering 15 major countries from the regions as mentioned above
• Commercial helicopter submarket forecasts from 2022-2028 covering the market by type, by number of engine, by application, and geography
• Various industry models such as SWOT analysis, Value Chain Analysis about the market
• Analysis of the key factors driving and restraining the growth of the global, regional, and country-level commercial helicopter markets from 2022-2028
• Competitive Landscape and market positioning of top 10 players operating in the market