Rega

What Rega does

Rega (Swiss Air-Rescue Rega) is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1952 that operates the national air-rescue and medical-repatriation service. The organization runs 14 helicopter bases distributed across Switzerland, delivering H145-family rescue helicopters with night-vision and all-weather capability to reach any point in the country within approximately 15 minutes flight time, and assisting roughly 13,000 patients per year (about 36 per day in 2025). Internationally, Rega operates three Bombardier Challenger 650 ambulance jets to repatriate Swiss nationals abroad, with mission costs ranging from approximately CHF 30,000 from Spain to over CHF 100,000 from Southeast Asia.

The core technology stack is operational rather than digital: a 24/7 Operations Center coordinating helicopters, jets, and partners; a 14-base physical network with crew of pilots, emergency doctors, paramedics, mechanics, avionics technicians, and IT engineers; an FAA/EASA-grade certified fleet (FOCA Part 145, ATO, CAMO, and Air Operator Certificates, plus EASA Part 21 Design Organisation Approval and CAMTS accreditation); and the Rega mobile app (iOS/Android, 1M+ downloads, ~1,500 app-raised missions) that transmits GPS coordinates, battery status, and patron profile directly to Operations Center screens to save up to 5 minutes per mission. Supporting digital surfaces include the patron portal, the Rega Shop e-commerce storefront, and the '1414' biannual magazine. An autonomous Rega search drone is in development.

Rega's revenue model is a hybrid patronage-and-mission-fee structure. Over 3.6 million patrons pay an annual contribution (tax-deductible in Switzerland) that supports the foundation and triggers cost waivers for missions not covered by insurance — Rega waived more than CHF 14 million in one recent year. Mission revenue is recovered from health, accident, and travel insurance partners (which cover 50–100% of average CHF 4,500 helicopter costs) and from social-assistance authorities, while repatriation services are billed as professional engagements. Additional revenue comes from donations, wills and legacies, and the Rega Shop. The organization is governed by a Foundation Board (chaired by Michael Hobmeier) and an executive team led by CEO Ernst Kohler, with no outside equity, government subsidies, or public listing.

Name

Rega

Legal name

Swiss Air-Rescue Rega

Website

https://rega.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Swiss Air-Rescue Rega is a non-profit foundation operating 14 helicopter bases and 3 ambulance jets to provide emergency medical rescue across Switzerland and repatriation worldwide for its 3.6 million patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Rescue Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (621910)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Evacuation, Repatriation & Extraction Services (THACANAG)

Keywords

• Air ambulance services
• Helicopter emergency medical
• Medical repatriation
• Mountain rescue operations
• Patronage membership model

Headquarters

HQ city

Kloten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patronage Membership: Annual contributions from patrons (3.6-3.7 million supporters). In return, Rega may waive costs of rescue missions not covered by insurance. The patronage fee is a donation-based model supporting the organization's non-profit mission.
2. Rescue Mission Fees: Revenue from rescue operations where costs are covered by patients' insurance (health, accident, or travel insurance) or by social assistance authorities. Average helicopter intervention costs approximately 4,500 CHF; complex missions can cost tens of thousands of CHF.
3. Donations: Voluntary financial contributions from donors supporting air rescue services. Donors receive tax deduction benefits.
4. Rega Shop: E-commerce operation selling Rega merchandise including mugs, models, clothing, books, and safety equipment.
5. Repatriation Services: International medical repatriation services via ambulance jets. Cost varies by distance (e.g., over 100,000 CHF from Thailand, approximately 30,000 CHF from Spain). Patrons receive cost waivers for uncovered portions.
6. Wills and Legacies: Inheritance and bequest donations from supporters who include Rega in their estate planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Rega (Swiss Air-Rescue) operates a 24/7 helicopter emergency medical service from 14 bases across Switzerland, reaching any point in the country within approximately 15 minutes flight time, and runs three Challenger 650 ambulance jets for international medical repatriation. The organization is funded by more than 3.6 million annual patrons and supplements its air rescue operations with the Rega smartphone app that transmits GPS coordinates directly to the Operations Center. Supporting offerings include the Patronage Membership with cost-waiver benefits, the Rega Shop merchandise store, and the RegaCLUB children's program.

Product overview

Rega (Swiss Air-Rescue) operates as a non-profit foundation providing air rescue and repatriation services. The core offering consists of a 14-base helicopter rescue network (H145 Da Vinci and new H145 D3 fleet of 21 aircraft) for emergency medical missions across Switzerland, plus three Challenger 650 ambulance jets for international patient repatriation. The Rega App serves as the primary digital product, enabling users to transmit GPS coordinates and raise alarms directly to the Rega Operations Center. Supporting services include the Patronage membership program (with cost waiver benefits), an online shop, the patron portal for self-service, the '1414' magazine publication, and RegaCLUB for young patrons. The organization also operates flight simulators and maintains partnerships with Swiss Alpine Rescue. An autonomous search drone is under development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RegaCLUB: A club for children under 12 who are Rega patrons, offering exclusive activities and membership benefits related to air rescue education and engagement.
• Rega Shop

Products and services

• Rega App Free iOS and Android emergency application that allows individuals to raise an air rescue alarm and automatically transmit GPS coordinates, battery status, and patron profile data to Rega's Operations Center; supports live location sharing, test alarm, and alarm raising on behalf of another person who has shared their location. Used by patrons and the general public in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy.
• Helicopter Emergency Rescue Service (H145 Da Vinci fleet) 24/7 helicopter emergency medical service delivered from 14 bases across Switzerland using Airbus H145 (Da Vinci) helicopters equipped with advanced avionics, night vision, hoist capability, and all-weather operations authorization; reaches any Swiss location within approximately 15 minutes flight time and serves approximately 13,000 patients per year.
• International Medical Repatriation Service (Challenger 650) Worldwide medical repatriation and intensive care air ambulance transport using three Bombardier Challenger 650 jets equipped as flying ICUs and staffed by medical teams; repatriation from Spain approximately 30,000 CHF and from Thailand over 100,000 CHF, with cost waivers for patrons on uncovered portions.
• Rega Patronage Membership Annual patronage subscription giving individuals and families cost waivers on rescue and repatriation missions not covered by health, accident, or travel insurance; also provides medical consultation abroad and repatriation organization support. Available as individual, gift, family, and group/corporate patronage. Rega waived over 14 million CHF for patrons in a recent year.
• Rega Shop Online e-commerce store selling Rega-branded merchandise including collector's edition mugs, fleet models, children's products, leisure and outdoor items, safety equipment, books, and accessories; ships within Switzerland.
• RegaCLUB Free children's club program that auto-enrolls Rega patrons under age 12, offering exclusive activities, safety education content, competitions, and air rescue awareness engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13,000 patients assisted annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Swiss Paraplegic FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2019New cooperation announced in January 2019 for specialized transport and care of spinal cord injury patients requiring air rescue services.
• Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 December 2017Regulatory partnership where FOCA grants special authorization for all-weather rescue operations, including nighttime and challenging weather conditions.
• Swiss Alpine Rescue (ARS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for coordinated mountain rescue operations. When rescues are carried out by Swiss Alpine Rescue, Rega forwards patronage data to facilitate cost coverage and coordination.
• EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationEuropean regulatory authority providing design organization approval and overseeing compliance with aviation safety standards for Rega's aircraft operations.
• CAMTS (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationAccreditation organization that validates Rega's medical transport services meet international quality and safety standards.
• Swiss Hospitals and Medical FacilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of hospitals and medical facilities throughout Switzerland for patient delivery and coordination of ongoing medical care.
• Cantonal Police and Emergency ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with cantonal police forces and other emergency services for rescue operations across Switzerland.
• European Emergency ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border coordination with neighboring countries' rescue services, including special arrangements with Austrian authorities for rescue operations near the Swiss border.
• Health, Accident, and Travel Insurance CompaniescoreOthersInsurance partners that cover costs of rescue missions. Rega coordinates with insurance companies to determine cost coverage and responsibility for rescue operations.
• Airports (Zurich Airport, Sion Airport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Swiss airports for ambulance jet operations and base locations. Rega jets remain stationed at Zurich Airport.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MedAire: International SOS subsidiary providing in-flight medical support and aviation medical kits. Adjacent to Rega's repatriation and medical consultation services for travelers abroad.
• International SOS: Global medical and travel security services firm providing evacuation, repatriation, and medical assistance worldwide. Comparable to Rega on the international repatriation and medical evacuation side, but broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Air Zermatt: Swiss helicopter rescue and air ambulance operator based in Zermatt, providing mountain rescue, transport, and commercial flights. Comparable for Swiss alpine rescue operations and air ambulance service overlap.
• European Air Ambulance: Luxembourg-headquartered commercial air ambulance provider operating dedicated medical jets across Europe. Comparable to Rega's ambulance jet repatriation service for international patient transport.
• Air-Glaciers: Swiss commercial helicopter operator providing mountain rescue, transport, and work-flight services across alpine terrain. Comparable to Rega in Swiss helicopter operations and emergency response.
• ADAC Luftrettung: Germany's primary non-profit air rescue organization operating a nationwide helicopter network funded through ADAC membership. Most direct functional analog to Rega in scale, mission, and membership-funded model.
• Heli Bernina: Swiss helicopter company operating in Graubünden region with mountain rescue, transport, and ambulance services. Comparable for Swiss alpine air rescue and medical transport.
• ÖAMTC Christophorus Flugrettung: Austrian club-funded air rescue service operating multiple helicopter bases with similar patron/membership funding model. Closely comparable to Rega in alpine terrain, membership economics, and mission scope.

Others

• Swiss Alpine Rescue (ARS): Swiss foundation coordinating ground-based mountain rescue operations. Rega forwards patronage data to ARS when ARS conducts rescues, making it a complementary ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Falck A/S: Denmark-headquartered international emergency services and ambulance operator with helicopter rescue operations across Europe and Americas. Comparable to Rega in emergency medical response but operates commercially across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/regatv
• Facebookfacebook.com/rega1414
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rega
• Instagraminstagram.com/rega_offiziell
• TikToktiktok.com/@rega1414

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Rega