What Lions Air Group AG does

Lions Air Group AG is a privately-held Swiss aviation holding company headquartered in Wollerau, Switzerland (Feldmoos 1, CH-8832 Wollerau), founded in 1987 by pilot Jürg Fleischmann and reorganized into its current holding form in 2008 through the merger of several operating companies. The group employs 300 people worldwide and operates a mixed fleet of 15 helicopters (Bell 429, Airbus H135, Airbus AS 332 Super Puma, AgustaWestland AW139, Airbus H160) and 3 business jets (Dassault Falcon, Bombardier Global 7500, Bombardier Challenger 604), plus 15 ambulances and 2 emergency medical vehicles across 9 operational bases in 7 countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, France, Austria, the UK, and the USA). Through wholly-owned subsidiaries (Lions Air, SkyEmotion, Skyair Aircraft Maintenance, AAA Alpine Air Ambulance) and joint ventures or minority stakes (European Firecats with Heli Austria; Via Suisse with SBB, TCS, and SRG), the group serves three primary verticals: emergency air rescue, VIP and corporate private aviation, and government-contracted aerial firefighting. AAA Alpine Air Ambulance operates as a 24/7 provider dispatched via the official Swiss emergency number 144, while European Firecats deploys heavy-lift Super Pumas internationally for forest fire suppression.

The group generates revenue across seven distinct streams with quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed: VIP and corporate charter flights (Lions Air), luxury personalized charter (SkyEmotion, direct-to-consumer via fly-skyemotion.com), air ambulance missions (per-transaction billing to hospitals, insurers, and government bodies), aerial firefighting (government contract deployments in Germany, Switzerland, Chile, and South Korea), restaurant and hospitality at Birrfeld regional airport (Restaurant Cockpit, 240+ seats across indoor and terrace areas), third-party certified aircraft maintenance (Skyair), and traffic data licensing through the Viasuisse joint venture. Distribution is multi-channel: B2B enterprise sales for VIP charter ([email protected]), emergency dispatch for air ambulance, government contracting for firefighting, walk-in hospitality for the restaurant, and B2B data licensing for traffic information. In-house Skyair Aircraft Maintenance provides certified airworthiness management, maintenance, repairs, inspections, and avionics modifications for the entire group fleet and external Swiss operators. The group is led by founder-CEO Jürg Fleischmann alongside partners Ursula Huber, René Schmid, and Sascha Fleischmann.

Name

Lions Air Group AG

Legal name

Lions Air Group AG

Website

https://lionsairgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lions Air Group AG is a Swiss aviation holding company operating VIP charter, air ambulance, aerial firefighting, aircraft maintenance, hospitality, and traffic information services through subsidiaries across 7 countries, employing 300 people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Aviation Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (48121), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881), Offices of Other Holding Companies (551112)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Flight Departments (In-House Business Aviation) (THABAFAE)

Keywords

• Private aviation services
• Air ambulance services
• Aerial firefighting
• Aircraft maintenance
• VIP charter flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Wollerau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. VIP Business Flights & Charter: Lions Air operates a modern fleet of twin-engine helicopters and business jets (Dassault Falcon, Bombardier Global 7500, Challenger 604) for worldwide personalized VIP air transport. Revenue is generated per flight/service engagement.
2. Luxury Charter — SkyEmotion: SkyEmotion provides personalized luxury charter flights, positioning at the premium end of private aviation. Revenue is generated per custom flight booking.
3. Air Ambulance & Medical Transport: AAA Alpine Air Ambulance provides 24/7 helicopter rescue, repatriation, hospital transfers, and organ transport services, billed per mission to healthcare institutions, insurers, and government bodies.
4. Aerial Firefighting: European Firecats provides aerial firefighting services (forest fire prevention and suppression) to government agencies and municipalities, billed per deployment/mission.
5. Restaurant & Hospitality: Restaurant Cockpit at Birrfeld regional airport serves traditional regional cuisine to walk-in guests. The venue seats 60 in the restaurant, 60 in the Sääli, 100+ on a sun terrace, and 120 on a self-service terrace.
6. Skyair Aircraft Maintenance: Certified maintenance services for Lions Air Group's own fleet and third-party operators in Switzerland, generating revenue through maintenance contracts and per-inspection billing.
7. Traffic Information — Viasuisse: Viasuisse (Lions Air Skymedia holds an ownership stake) provides live traffic information, statistics, and forecasts for the Swiss market. Revenue derives from data licensing and B2B agreements with transport and media partners.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lions Air Group AG is a Swiss aviation holding company that operates a vertically integrated portfolio of aviation services through its subsidiaries. The group provides VIP and business charter flights, air rescue and medical transport, aerial firefighting, certified aircraft maintenance, and airport hospitality, supported by a fleet of 15 helicopters, 3 business jets, 15 ambulances, and 2 emergency medical vehicles.

Product overview

Lions Air Group AG is a Swiss aviation holding company consisting of multiple subsidiaries operating across air rescue, VIP business flights, aerial firefighting, aircraft maintenance, multimedia production, and hospitality. The portfolio includes Lions Air (VIP flights), SkyEmotion (luxury charter), Skyair Maintenance (aircraft maintenance), AAA Alpine Air Ambulance (medical rescue), European Firecats (aerial firefighting), Restaurant Cockpit (airport dining), and Via Suisse (traffic information). The group operates a fleet of 15 helicopters, 3 airplanes, and 15 ambulances with 300 employees worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lions Air: VIP business flights and worldwide air transport services with twin-engine helicopters and business jets.
• Skyair Maintenance
• SkyEmotion
• AAA Alpine Air Ambulance
• European Firecats
• Restaurant Cockpit
• Via Suisse

Products and services

• Lions Air VIP Charter VIP and business flight services using a modern fleet of twin-engine helicopters and business jets (Dassault Falcon, Bombardier Global 7500, Challenger 604), specializing in worldwide air transport and personalized VIP flights for corporate and high-net-worth clients.
• SkyEmotion Luxury Charter Luxury personalized charter flight service marking a new era of stylish travel with hand-picked luxury accommodations and individual flight plans for premium clients.
• AAA Alpine Air Ambulance Swiss air rescue service operating 24/7 with emergency doctors, paramedics, and pilots, providing helicopter rescues, repatriations, hospital transfers, and organ transports. Dispatched via Swiss emergency number 144.
• Skyair Aircraft Maintenance Certified aircraft maintenance company performing maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, inspections, and avionics modifications on aircraft and helicopters for the Lions Air Group fleet and other Swiss operators.
• European Firecats Aerial Firefighting Joint venture between Lions Air Group and Austria's Heli Austria deploying Airbus AS 332 Super Pumas for forest fire prevention and suppression worldwide, deployed in Germany, Switzerland, Chile, and South Korea.
• Viasuisse Traffic Information Leading traffic information company in Switzerland, providing live traffic information, statistics, and forecasts. Co-owned by SBB, TCS, SRG, and Lions Air Skymedia since 2001.
• Restaurant Cockpit Restaurant at Birrfeld regional airport offering traditional Swiss cuisine with 60 seats in the main restaurant, 60 in the Säälli, over 100 on a sun terrace, and 120 on a self-service terrace adjacent to an aviation-themed children's playground.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deployed across Germany (2022), Switzerland (2023), Chile (2023–2024), South Korea (2024)

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Viasuisse (Co-ownership: SBB, TCS, SRG, Lions Air Skymedia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Viasuisse was founded in 2001 and is the leading company in the Swiss traffic information market, offering live traffic information, statistics, and forecasts. Lions Air Skymedia holds a co-ownership stake alongside SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), TCS (Touring Club Switzerland), and SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation). Lions Air Group is one of four co-owners in this joint venture.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NetJets Inc. Berkshire Hathaway-owned global fractional jet and private aviation operator. Comparable to Lions Air's VIP business jet charter (Falcon, Challenger, Global 7500 fleet overlap) at much larger scale; serves the same HNW and corporate clients with non-scheduled private flights.
• DRF Luftrettung: One of Europe's largest air-rescue and HEMS operators, running helicopter and ambulance-jet missions primarily in Germany and across Europe. Comparable to AAA Alpine Air Ambulance in mission profile and customer base, with broader geographic scale.

Direct peers

• VistaJet Holding SA: Global business aviation company operating a fleet of long-range private jets for HNW and corporate charter. Directly comparable to Lions Air's VIP charter segment, with overlapping Falcon/Global airframes and similar worldwide on-demand positioning.
• Air Zermatt AG: Swiss helicopter operator focused on alpine rescue, transport, and tourism in the Zermatt/Matterhorn region. Directly comparable to AAA's HEMS and to Lions Air's alpine helicopter operations; competes for the same pilot, mountain-rescue, and tourist charter demand in Switzerland.
• Heli Austria GmbH: Austrian helicopter operator and Lions Air's JV partner in European Firecats for aerial firefighting. Directly comparable fleet (Super Pumas) and overlapping missions in helicopter rescue, alpine operations, and aerial firefighting across the Alpine region.
• Rega (Swiss Air-Rescue Guard Foundation): Swiss non-profit air-rescue operator providing helicopter rescue, repatriation, and medical transport across Switzerland. Directly comparable to AAA Alpine Air Ambulance in mission profile, fleet type, and Swiss HEMS market, and the most natural Swiss-headquartered peer.

Peers

• Luxaviation Group:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/alpineairambulance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lions-air-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Lions Air Group AG