Queensland aeromedical operator LifeFlight will take delivery of its 17th Leonardo AW139 helicopter next week, as the platform approaches 20 years of service in Australia.
The announcement was made at the RotorTech Vertical Flight Exposition on the Gold Coast, where LifeFlight reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with Leonardo Helicopters. The latest delivery brings the total number of AW139s operating across the Oceania region to 80.
LifeFlight's relationship with Leonardo dates to 2015, and the organisation expects to have one of the largest AW139 fleets in Australia by 2027. The Archerfield Airport-based LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre has also been recognised as a Leonardo Authorised Service Centre.
The expansion comes as demand for LifeFlight's services continues to grow. The organisation airlifted more than 8,800 people in 2025, up four per cent on the previous year, while total flying hours rose 10 per cent to more than 6,000 and missions increased nine per cent to exceed 3,800.
"The AW139 has been central to LifeFlight's growth as one of Australia's largest aeromedical services," said CEO and Managing Director Ashley van de Velde. "Missions and flying hours are rising year-on-year as our teams fly farther and faster into more complex situations than ever before."
Beyond aeromedical operations, LifeFlight's special mission AW139 fleet is equipped for search and rescue, disaster response and flood extraction, and has rescued hundreds of people and dozens of pets from flood, storm and cyclone events since 2022. The aircraft are fitted with thermal imaging, dual rescue hoists, high-intensity searchlights and NVIS-compatible cockpits for night operations.
LifeFlight has also supported the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force in north-western Australia, with the capability to establish remote operating bases within 48 hours and execute missions spanning more than 1,000 kilometres.