Executive Helicopters

What Executive Helicopters does

Executive Helicopters is a privately held, Galway-headquartered commercial helicopter operator providing charter, tourism, VIP transfer, and emergency-services aviation across Ireland. The company operates a twin-engine fleet of seven helicopters, including an EC155 with 1,400 kg aerial-lift and firefighting-water-drop capability, and is licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (AOC No. IRL. 41/07, Operating Licence No. 01/12, Part 145 IE.145.047, CAMO IE.MG.041). The company serves four distinct customer segments: (1) golf tourism operators and affluent individual golfers seeking transport between Ireland's premier links courses (Adare Manor, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Waterville, Oldhead Kinsale); (2) leisure tourists and VIP travelers seeking scenic flights over Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Giants Causeway, and the Wild Atlantic Way; (3) individuals booking special-occasion flights (weddings, proposals, concert transfers including Metallica at Slane Castle in 2019); and (4) government and enterprise clients including ESB emergency power-line patrols (Storm Éowyn, January 2025), Coillte wildfire suppression training, Dublin Fire Brigade gorse-fire response, and ad-hoc support for events such as the Red Bull wing-suit flight and Aer Lingus College Football Classic flypast.

The company's revenue model combines per-flight transaction fees for tourism and charter work with managed-services emergency contracts for utilities and government. Pricing is fully quote-based; no published rate cards exist, and all sales are conducted via phone, email, or website inquiry. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with no intermediaries, supplemented by industry event participation (MEBAA Show 2024), IGTOA sponsorship where the company presents annual Service Excellence Awards, and Instagram/Facebook organic content marketing. The Irish Aviation Authority's multi-layered licensing regime functions as a hard regulatory moat, and the company has accumulated 23+ years of operational continuity, multiple Aviation Company of the Year awards (2017, 2018), and relationships with luxury hotels and golf course operators that shape inbound demand. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding, no parent company, and no public listing.

Name

Executive Helicopters

Legal name

Executive Helicopters

Website

https://executive-helicopters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Executive Helicopters is Ireland's leading licensed helicopter operator, providing charter, golf tours, bespoke scenic flights, VIP transfers, and emergency-services aviation (firefighting, infrastructure patrols) across Ireland via a seven-helicopter twin-engine fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Charter Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTLAFACAB

On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Helicopter Passenger Services

SECONDARYTLAFACAD

Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Helicopter Passenger Services

SECONDARYTLAFACAG

Helicopter Event & VIP Transport Services

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Helicopter Passenger Services

Keywords

• Helicopter charter services
• Scenic aerial tours
• VIP helicopter transport
• Emergency aerial support
• Helicopter golf tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Galway

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Helicopter Charter Services: On-demand helicopter charter flights for various purposes including golf tours, scenic tours, VIP transfers, corporate transport, and special events. Revenue generated on a per-flight/per-trip basis based on duration, distance, and helicopter type required.
2. Golf Tour Packages: Specialized helicopter transport for golf tourism, ferrying groups between premier Irish golf courses and airports/hotels, often multi-stop itineraries covering multiple courses in a day
3. Emergency Services Contracts: Contracted helicopter services for ESB (electricity emergency patrols), firefighting support (Coillte, Fire Services), and storm damage assessment
4. VIP Transfers and Special Events: Premium helicopter transport for weddings, celebrity events, corporate travel, and special occasions including concert transfers (Metallica Slane, Red Bull events)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Executive Helicopters operates a licensed commercial helicopter charter business based in Galway, Ireland, providing on-demand aerial services including golf course transfers, bespoke scenic tours of Irish landmarks (Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Giants Causeway), VIP transfers, special event transport, and contracted emergency services such as ESB power line patrols and wildfire firefighting support. The company runs its own fleet of twin-engine helicopters, including an EC155 capable of lifting up to 1,400 kg, operated by an in-house team of pilots and maintenance crew.

Product overview

Executive Helicopters is Ireland's leading licensed helicopter operator offering a complete range of helicopter services. The company provides Helicopter Charter Services, Helicopter Golf Tours, Bespoke Tours, Charter Tours, Transfers, and Special Events. With over 23 years of experience and a fleet of twin-engine helicopters including the EC155, they offer services from locations including Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, and Adare Manor, operating tours throughout Ireland including the Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Giants Causeway, and Cliffs of Moher. The Helicopter Golf Tours service transports golfers between world-class Irish links courses while Bespoke Tours provide customized aerial sightseeing experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Helicopter Golf Tours Multi-course helicopter golf tours transporting golfers between Ireland's premier links courses, including Adare Manor, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Oldhead Kinsale, Waterville, Rosapenna, and Glasson, often combining multiple courses in a single day and including airport/hotel transfers. Targeted at affluent golfers and golf tour operators.
• Bespoke Helicopter Tours Custom-built scenic helicopter tours of Irish landmarks such as the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Giants Causeway, and the Wild Atlantic Way, with departures from luxury bases including Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, and Adare Manor. Targeted at individual tourists and VIP travelers seeking unique aerial sightseeing experiences.
• Helicopter Charter Services On-demand commercial helicopter charter flights for any purpose and destination across Ireland, available to individuals, corporate clients, and groups with bespoke itineraries built around customer requirements.
• VIP Transfers Helicopter transfer services for VIP and corporate passengers between airports, hotels, golf resorts, and event venues, as well as airport/hotel-to-course connections for touring clients.
• Special Event Helicopter Services Helicopter services for special occasions and event support, including weddings, wedding proposals, corporate events, concert transfers (e.g., Metallica at Slane Castle), branded activations (Red Bull wing suit flight, Aer Lingus flypast), and F1 support at Silverstone.
• Aerial Emergency & Infrastructure Services Contracted aerial emergency services including ESB power line storm-damage assessment patrols, Coillte wildfire suppression and annual firefighting training, and Dublin Fire Brigade / county council gorse fire control support, leveraging EC155 lifting capacity and Bambi bucket water drops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23+ years of continuous operation as Ireland's leading licensed helicopter operator
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• CoilltecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2025Annual firefighting training partnership with Coillte (Ireland's forestry authority). Executive Helicopters participates in regular training exercises and provides wildfire suppression support during fire season. Partnership involves coordination with emergency services for large-scale fire response operations across Irish forests.
• MEBAA (Middle East & Europe Business Aviation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Association membership and event participation. Attended MEBAA Show 2024 in Dubai exploring latest business aviation innovations and sustainability trends. Networking with aviation professionals across the Middle East and Europe.
• ESB (Electricity Supply Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing emergency patrol contracts for ESB to assess power line damage after storms. Helicopters enable rapid assessment of extensive rural networks and support crew deployment for restoration work. Services provided during major storms including Storm Éowyn (2025) and previous weather events.
• IGTOA (Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member and sponsor of the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association. Capt Chris Shiel presents IGTOA Service Excellence Awards at annual conferences. Partnership drives referrals from Ireland's leading golf tour operators and positions Executive Helicopters as the preferred aviation partner for Irish golf tourism.
• Irish Aviation AuthoritycoreOthersRegulatory partnership with IAA for operating licenses. Holder of AOC No. IRL. 41/07, Operating Licence No. 01/12, Part 145 IE.145.047 maintenance approval, and CAMO IE.MG.041 continuing airworthiness approval.
• Commission for Aviation RegulationcoreOthersLicensed and approved by the Commission for Aviation Regulation for commercial helicopter operations in Ireland.
• Premium Irish Golf Courses (Adare Manor, Oldhead Kinsale, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Waterville, Rosapenna, County Sligo)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnerships with Ireland's premier golf courses enabling seamless helicopter golf tour operations. Courses facilitate helicopter landing/pickup and actively recommend Executive Helicopters to visiting golfers. Featured at major golf tourism events and conferences.
• Luxury Hotels (Adare Manor, Dromoland Castle, Ballynahinch Castle, The Rose Hotel)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with luxury Irish hotels for helicopter transfers and VIP guest transport. Hotels facilitate helicopter landing on premises and recommend services to guests seeking premium experiences or efficient transport.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CHC Helicopter: One of the world's largest helicopter operators providing offshore, search-and-rescue and aerial services globally; a much larger incumbent that competes in the same nonscheduled aviation space and could compete for Irish emergency-services contracts.
• Bristow Group: Global helicopter services company focused on offshore energy, search-and-rescue and government contracts; broader incumbent with overlapping emergency-services and aerial-work capabilities that could bid against Executive Helicopters for utility and government work.

Direct peers

• Castle Air: UK helicopter charter operator providing corporate, private and event helicopter services across the British Isles; similar on-demand charter model and VIP/corporate customer base as Executive Helicopters.
• Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters: US-based helicopter sightseeing operator running tours over the Grand Canyon and other national landmarks; comparable business model focused on branded scenic helicopter experiences for tourists.
• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters: Hawaii-based helicopter sightseeing and tour operator running a twin-engine fleet on scenic routes; closely comparable to Executive Helicopters' bespoke scenic-tour product (Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way) on model and customer experience.
• HeliDubai: Dubai-based helicopter operator offering sightseeing, VIP and charter flights; comparable in tour-and-VIP product mix and use of premium helicopters for tourist and corporate clients.
• Air Associates: UK private helicopter charter and management company serving corporate and private clients; directly comparable on-demand charter proposition and corporate/VIP customer segment in a nearby geography.
• Sloane Helicopters: UK helicopter company offering charter, management, sales and aerial work across UK and Ireland; comparable in operating geography, charter services and aerial-work capabilities (including utility/survey work) to Executive Helicopters.
• PremiAir: UK-based private helicopter charter operator offering VIP, corporate, event and tour services; directly comparable on business model, customer type (luxury/corporate) and on-demand charter structure to Executive Helicopters' core offering.

Emerging players

• Heli Union: French helicopter operator providing charter, aerial work and emergency services in Europe; partial overlap with Executive Helicopters' nonscheduled charter and emergency-services offerings, particularly for cross-border European work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/executive_helicopters
• Xx.com/executivehelis
• Facebookfacebook.com/100063602635072
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/executive-helicopters

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Executive Helicopters