Commercial Helicopters Market Report 2026

The commercial helicopters market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $39.51 billion in 2025 to $40.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in demand for passenger and cargo transport services using helicopters, expansion of utility operations such as patrol, forestry, and aerial photography, rising adoption of helicopters for urban and remote-area accessibility, increased procurement of commercial helicopters by private operators and service providers, reliance on manufacturer-provided mro services during warranty periods.

The commercial helicopters market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $47.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for advanced and fuel-efficient commercial helicopters, increasing adoption of helicopters for urban air mobility and emergency medical services, growth in offshore energy and infrastructure operations requiring helicopter transport, development of hybrid-electric and low-emission rotorcraft technologies, expansion of global commercial helicopter fleets driving ongoing mro requirements. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for emergency medical transport, expansion of tourism and charter services, growth in offshore oil and gas operations, rising need for aerial surveillance and security, urban air mobility and rooftop helipad adoption.

The increasing demand in the tourism industry is expected to drive the growth of the commercial helicopter market in the coming years. The tourism industry includes all economic activities and services related to travel for leisure, business, or other purposes, encompassing various sectors and businesses that cater to the needs of tourists and travelers. Commercial helicopters are utilized in the tourism sector to enhance travel experiences, offering unique aerial views of scenic destinations to a wider range of visitors. For example, in August 2025, Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, a Belgium-based trade association representing European airports, reported a 4.5% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic across Europe’s airport network in the first half of the year. Therefore, the rising demand in the tourism industry is driving the expansion of the commercial helicopter market.

Major companies in the commercial helicopter market are focusing on developing technological innovations, such as turbine-powered medium-lift helicopters for versatile missions, to enhance passenger and cargo capacity, improve handling, and reduce pilot workload. A turbine-powered medium-lift helicopter utilizes a turboshaft engine combined with advanced rotor and control systems, providing greater power, stability, and efficiency compared to conventional piston-engine helicopters. For example, in March 2025, Robinson Helicopter Company, a US-based helicopter manufacturer, unveiled the Robinson R88, a turbine-powered medium-lift helicopter designed for commercial, utility, and emergency service applications. The helicopter features a Safran Arriel 2W turboshaft engine, dual pilot controls for improved handling, and a ten-seat cabin configuration, enhancing operational efficiency through increased payload capacity, smoother flight performance, and expanded mission versatility compared to smaller Robinson models such as the R44 and R66.

In April 2025, Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt. Ltd. (MASPL), an India-based subsidiary of Mahindra Group, formed a strategic partnership with Airbus Helicopters to manufacture and assemble the main fuselage of the H130 light single-engine helicopter. Under this collaboration, MASPL is responsible for producing and assembling the main fuselage of the H130 at its facility in India, with the completed assemblies shipped to Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Europe. Airbus Helicopters, based in France, specializes in the design, production, and support of civil and military helicopters.

Major companies operating in the commercial helicopters market are Airbus SE, Leonardo SpA, Russian Helicopters, Textron, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Robinson Helicopter Company, MD Helicopters Inc, Kaman Corporation, Airbus Helicopters India Pvt Ltd, Bell Helicopter India, Eurocopter India Pvt Ltd, HAL, Indian Rotorcraft, Indocopters, Mahindra, Ramco, TataCitic Offshore Helicopter (COHC), China Flying Dragon General Aviation, China Southern Zhuhai Helicopter Company, Reignwood, Sichuan Xilin Fengteng, China Eastern GA, Aerospeed Ltd, Aeroventure Museum, Air Alderney, Air Harrods Ltd, Airwork (Helicopters) Ltd, Atlas Helicopters, Avincis Group, Babcock International, Bond Aviation Group, Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Bournemouth Helicopters Ltd, Brintel Helicopters, Bristow, British Airways Helicopters, British Caledonian Helicopter, British European Airways, British Executive Air Services, Kazan Helicopters, Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Kamov Design Bureau, Motor Sich JSC, Antonov State Enterprise, Brantly International, The Boeing Company, Magellan Aerospace, Northstar Aerospace Inc, Bombardier Inc, Era Group Inc, Vector Aerospace, Flapper, Helibras, Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC), Ayezan E Gistics Llc, Transworld Aviation FZE, Abu Dhabi Aviation.

North America was the largest region in the commercial helicopters market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global commercial helicopters market share during the forecast period. The regions covered in the commercial helicopters market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have impacted the commercial helicopter market by increasing costs of imported components such as engines, avionics, and structural parts, causing delays in production and delivery. Medium and heavy-weight helicopter segments, particularly in regions like North America and Europe, are most affected due to reliance on global supply chains. While tariffs have raised operational costs, they have also encouraged local manufacturing and component sourcing, potentially boosting domestic production capabilities and innovation in helicopter design and assembly.

The commercial helicopters market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides commercial helicopters market statistics, including global and regional shares, competitors with a commercial helicopters market share, detailed commercial helicopters market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the commercial helicopters industry. This commercial helicopters market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Commercial helicopters are helicopters utilized for transporting passengers and cargo for commercial purposes. They can operate with one or two pilots, providing the flexibility to land and take off in various locations, including airports, urban areas, and helipads on buildings.

The primary types of commercial helicopters include light-weight, medium-weight, and heavy-weight categories. They are further classified based on the number of engines, with options for single-engine and multi-engine configurations. These helicopters find applications in sectors such as oil and gas, transportation, medical services, law enforcement, public safety, and others.

The countries covered in the commercial helicopters market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The commercial helicopters market consists of sales of helicopters of various types for commercial purposes such as passenger transport, cargo, and utility tasks such as photo, patrol, forestry, and advertising. The market includes MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) services provided by manufacturers during the commercial helicopter’s warranty period. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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