Avincis
Avincis is Europe's largest aerial emergency services provider, operating 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft to deliver wildfire suppression, helicopter emergency medical services, and offshore wind support across Portugal, Spain, and the Nordics under government and enterprise contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Avincis does
Avincis is Europe's largest aerial emergency services provider, operating a diversified fleet of 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft — including 22 Canadair waterbombers — across Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. The company delivers three integrated service lines: aerial wildfire suppression (waterbombing and Super Scooper operations primarily in Iberia), helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operating from 10 bases in Sweden with missions including patient transfers to Visby Hospital and Karolinska University Hospital, and offshore wind helicopter services serving wind farm operators such as Vattenfall and Siemens Gamesa. Avincis employs between 5,001 and 10,000 people and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, with the firmographic record indicating Madrid as a corporate location.
The business operates on a managed-services and government-contract revenue model. Revenue is generated through long-term service agreements with European government agencies for firefighting and emergency medical work, plus enterprise contracts in the offshore wind vertical. Customer concentration is tilted toward public-sector buyers (Spanish and Portuguese firefighting authorities, Swedish healthcare system). Capacity is flexed through aircraft leasing arrangements — notably a July 2026 lease with Bridger Aerospace for two CL-215T Super Scoopers deployed in Portugal through mid-October 2026 — allowing peak-season augmentation without permanent fleet expansion.
Strategically, Avincis is in an offensive expansion phase. The September 2025 acquisition of Denmark-based KN Helicopters marked entry into the offshore wind sector and added four Airbus helicopters to the fleet. Operational intensity has grown sharply: flight hours in Spain and Portugal in 2026 more than doubled the same-period 2025 figure, coinciding with record European wildfire destruction (1.03 million hectares burned in the EU in 2025). CEO John Boag has publicly positioned Avincis to address the continent's structural shortage of firefighting aircraft and pilots, framing the EU's €600M DHC-515 procurement program (deliveries 2027-2030) as validation of a growing addressable market.
Avincis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Avincis
- Legal name
- Avincis
- Website
- https://avincisgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Avincis is Europe's largest aerial emergency services provider, operating 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft to deliver wildfire suppression, helicopter emergency medical services, and offshore wind support across Portugal, Spain, and the Nordics under government and enterprise contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Avincis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Emergency Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Air Transportation (48121), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Helicopter Passenger Services (TLAFAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD)
Keywords
Where Avincis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Avincis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aerial Firefighting Services: Provides aerial firefighting capabilities including waterbombers and helicopters for wildfire suppression. Operates 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft globally, including 22 Canadair waterbombers. Revenue generated through government contracts and service agreements with firefighting agencies.
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS): Provides helicopter emergency medical services including critical patient transfers and emergency response. Avincis Sweden operates 13 aircraft across 10 bases serving hospitals including Visby Hospital and Karolinska University Hospital.
- Offshore Wind Helicopter Services: Provides helicopter transportation and support services for offshore wind farms. Expanded into this sector through acquisition of KN Helicopters, maintaining existing contracts with wind farm operators.
- Aircraft Leasing and Deployment: Leases specialized aircraft (Super Scoopers) to augment firefighting capacity during peak wildfire seasons. Aircraft under contract through specific periods (e.g., mid-October 2026 for Portugal operations).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Avincis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Avincis provides aerial emergency and mission aviation services across Europe using a fleet of approximately 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft. Its services include aerial firefighting, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), search and rescue, and helicopter transport for offshore wind crews, delivered to government agencies (firefighting/health ministries in Spain, Portugal, Sweden) and to energy-sector corporates such as Vattenfall and Siemens Gamesa.
Product overview
Avincis is Europe's largest aerial emergency services provider operating a diversified fleet of 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft. The company offers three main service lines: Aerial Wildfire Suppression using Canadair waterbombers and Super Scooper aircraft for firefighting operations across Spain and Portugal; Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in Sweden with H145 aircraft; and Offshore Wind Helicopter Services acquired through KN Helicopters for wind farm support operations in Denmark. The product portfolio connects through shared aviation infrastructure and operational expertise across emergency services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial Firefighting Services Helicopter-based aerial firefighting operations (water/retardant drops) delivered to national and regional governments — explicitly referenced for Spain and Portugal — for wildfire suppression and civil protection campaigns.
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Helicopter-based emergency medical transport services delivering rapid patient transport and pre-hospital care, provided to public-sector healthcare authorities — explicitly referenced for Sweden.
- Offshore Wind Helicopter Services Helicopter crew transfer and personnel transport services for offshore wind installations, delivered to energy-sector corporate customers such as Vattenfall and Siemens Gamesa.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) Services Helicopter-based search and rescue operations delivered across European countries, leveraging hoists, winches and mission-trained crews for emergency response.
- KN Helicopters Operations (acquired) KN Helicopters, a subsidiary of Avincis acquired in September 2025, extends the group's European helicopter services footprint.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,000+ flight hours in Spain and Portugal in 2026 (more than double same period in 2025)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Avincis
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Avincis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Avincis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bridger AerospacecoreAvincis and Bridger Aerospace announced a lease agreement placing Bridger's two Super Scooper aircraft (CL-215T) into active wildfire suppression operations in Portugal. The aircraft are under contract through mid-October 2026 and will operate under Avincis's management during one of Europe's most demanding wildfire seasons. This partnership marks Bridger Aerospace's first revenue-generating operations in Europe.
- VattenfallminorVattenfall is a wind farm operator that was a customer of KN Helicopters prior to Avincis' acquisition. KN Helicopters provided offshore helicopter services to Vattenfall's wind projects since 2016 under contract.
- Siemens GamesaminorSiemens Gamesa is a wind turbine manufacturer and operator that was a customer of KN Helicopters prior to Avincis' acquisition. KN Helicopters provided offshore helicopter services under contract to Siemens Gamesa wind projects.
- KN HelicopterscoreAvincis acquired Denmark-based KN Helicopters to enter the offshore wind sector. KN Helicopters has provided helicopter services to wind industry since 2016, holding contracts with Vattenfall and Siemens Gamesa. The acquisition adds three Airbus H135 and one Airbus H145 to Avincis' fleet and expands its Nordic footprint. KN's co-founder and CEO Niels Peter Kjeldahl continues to lead the business following the transaction.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Avincis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bristow Group: Bristow Group is a leading global helicopter services provider operating across offshore energy, government services, and search-and-rescue — directly comparable to Avincis's diversified helicopter service portfolio (firefighting/HEMS/offshore wind).
- Heli-Union: Heli-Union is a France-based helicopter operator providing aerial work, firefighting, and external load services across Europe, directly competing with Avincis in European aerial firefighting and utility helicopter missions.
- PHI Aviation: PHI Aviation operates a global helicopter fleet serving offshore energy, air medical, and government services, directly comparable to Avincis's HEMS and offshore wind helicopter service lines.
- Falcon Aviation Services: Falcon Aviation provides helicopter services including offshore and emergency response across the Middle East and parts of Europe, comparable to Avincis in offering diversified mission-critical aerial services to governments and enterprises.
- HeliService International: HeliService International is a German helicopter operator focused on offshore wind crew transport in the North Sea, directly comparable to Avincis's KN Helicopters-acquired offshore wind service line.
Broad incumbents
- Babcock International: Babcock operates an Aviation sector with mission-critical aerial services including aerial emergency response and training, overlapping with Avincis's firefighting and HEMS lines, but as part of a much broader defense, marine, and nuclear portfolio.
Regional players
- Helitrans (Avincis historic relationship): Helitrans is an Iberian-based helicopter operator historically linked to the Avincis/Inaer group, providing aerial work and emergency services primarily in Spain and Portugal — a regional comparable to Avincis's core Southern European firefighting business.
- Norwegian Air Ambulance: Norwegian Air Ambulance operates helicopter emergency medical services across Norway on long-term government contracts, comparable to Avincis Sweden's HEMS operations and a logical Nordic market adjacency.
- Air Methods: Air Methods is the largest U.S. air medical transport operator, comparable in business model to Avincis's HEMS operations but operating exclusively in the U.S. market.
Others
- De Havilland Canada (DHC manufacturer): De Havilland Canada manufactures the DHC-515 firefighting aircraft being procured under the EU's €600M program. As the OEM of the primary waterbomber used in Avincis's fleet, it is an enabling/adjacent participant rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Avincis social profiles
Digital presenceAvincis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Avincis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Avincis subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Avincis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Avincis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Avincis
What does Avincis do?
Avincis provides aerial emergency and mission aviation services across Europe using a fleet of approximately 180 helicopters and 40 fixed-wing aircraft. Its services include aerial firefighting, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), search and rescue, and helicopter transport for offshore wind crews, delivered to government agencies (firefighting/health ministries in Spain, Portugal, Sweden) and to energy-sector corporates such as Vattenfall and Siemens Gamesa.
Is Avincis a public or private company?
Avincis is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Avincis founded?
Avincis was founded in 1961. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Avincis based?
Avincis is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Avincis make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Aerial Firefighting Services are the primary driver. The others are helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), offshore Wind Helicopter Services and aircraft Leasing and Deployment.
Who are Avincis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bristow Group, Heli-Union, PHI Aviation, Falcon Aviation Services and HeliService International. Babcock International is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Helitrans (Avincis historic relationship), Norwegian Air Ambulance and Air Methods. De Havilland Canada (DHC manufacturer) is listed as an others.
Does Avincis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Avincis.
What industry is Avincis in?
Avincis's product category is Aerial Emergency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAAAE, Helicopter Passenger Services, with a secondary code of HLAFANAD, Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing). Its NAICS code is 48121 and its SIC code is 4512.