Era Group and Bel Air Aviation have entered into a teaming agreement with the intention that the helicopter services offered by both companies will be further strengthened through close cooperation.

Bel Air Aviation was established in 1994 and is the only Danish-owned offshore helicopter company servicing the oil and gas and wind sectors. It has its main base at Esbjerg airport and operates offshore flights to oil and gas installations as well as vessels and wind farms in the North Sea, Black Sea and Baltic Sea. It is also an AW189 fleet leader and an official Leonardo Helicopters service centre for AW139 and AW189 helicopters.

Era, with 70 years of operations behind it, is the longest-serving helicopter transport provider in the US. Its helicopters are primarily used to transport personnel to, from and between offshore oil and gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations as well as for emergency response services, firefighting, utility and VIP transport.

Era will add fleet and support to the cooperation while Bel Air Aviation will contribute with operational and technical services for customers in Europe, and particularly within the North Sea area. The combined strengths and expertise of the two companies means they will be able to offer even better helicopter services to their customers, with high flexibility, a strong helicopter capacity and a reinforced base ensuring high expertise and know-how within the helicopter industry.

Bel Air Aviation owner and managing director Susanne Hessellund says: “We are really happy and excited that this teaming agreement has been made possible. We are convinced that this collaboration will result in even more opportunities and higher flexibility for our customers since both our companies share the same fundamental values and prioritise safety, flexibility and reliability to ensure dedicated and customised service.”