Buy the full study
Summary of our market study
The French helicopter fleet totals some 1,400 units
France, with key industry players such as Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines, occupies a strong position on the world market. The French helicopter market remains robust, largely thanks to exports. Increased government orders are boosting the market.
Demand dynamics vary: personal use remains limited, while orders from emergency medical services and military demand are linked to national military budgets and foreign sales negotiations.
The helicopter market can be broken down into five main segments: defense, business aviation, police forces, the oil and gas industry and medical evacuation organized by SAMU.
The French military fleet comprises 555 combat helicopters.
The commercial helicopter fleet totals some 900 units.
France has the second largest helicopter fleet in Europe, behind the UK.
The market is also diversifying, with services such as "taxicopters" offered by companies like Ubercopter and BookMyHelo.
The market faces a number of obstacles, however: the limited number of heliports, noise pollution and accidents that damage the public image of helicopters, and controversy over military sales are all holding back market growth.
Helicopter industry players
- Airbus Helicopters: At the top of the list is Airbus Helicopters, the world's leading manufacturer of civil helicopters. The company has the widest range of civil and military helicopters in the world.
- Bell Helicopter: an American company, is another leading figure in the helicopter market, known for its innovative designs and advanced technology.
- Leonardo: Italian company Leonardo is a major competitor in the helicopter market, with a market share second only to Airbus.
- Safran Helicopter Engines: Leading manufacturer of helicopter engines.
- Guimbal Helicopters: French SME specializing in two-seater helicopters. Guimbal has targeted the flight school market.
- NHIndustries: Consortium including Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Fokker, which manufactures the NH90 military helicopter.
- Heli Union, a Sabena subsidiary specializing in helicopter rental worldwide.
to understand this market
Detailed content of our market study
Inforamtion
- Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update :
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Presentation and Definition of the Market
The helicopters are propeller aircraft, used in both the civil and military aspects of aeronautics. The helicopter market can be broken down according to use: the defence , l’ business aviation s, the police forces , l’ gas industry and oil and the medical evacuation to name the most important ones.
After a difficult period between 2017 and 2019 (there was a 20% drop in deliveries of civil helicopters and a 13% drop in the overall market in 2017 and then in 2019 the market as a whole fell by 15%); the global helicopter market shows some promise. Indeed, after the beginning of 2020 marked by the highly publicized death of Kobe Bryant and the coronavirus crisis, which considerably slowed down the market, a recovery is expected in the near future, i.e. in 2021 or even 2022. The year 2020 should be a year of stability, before seeing the market take off again in the years to come. Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines, said "a scenario of gradual recovery" and thought "optimistic about the medium- and long-term outlook". [ La Tribune ]
The French company Airbus Helicopters is the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, their range of civil and military helicopters is the widest in the world and represents nearly a third of the civil and parapublic helicopters in service worldwide. The market is seeing the emergence of partnerships between companies in order to have more weight in the sector: Airbus Helicopters-Avic, Bell-Augusta, etc. [ SME Pact ]
List of charts presented in this market study
- Temps de vol des hélicoptères commerciaux selon la raison de vol
- Taille du Marché des Hélicoptères
- Répartition de la flotte d'Hélicoptères Commerciaux
- Plus grandes flottes d'hélicoptères commerciaux
- Plus grandes flottes d'hélicoptères militaires
All our studies are available online in PDF format
Take a look at an example of our research on another market!
Latest news
Safran becomes world leader in flight controls - 07/06/2024
- Safran acquires the flight control and actuation business of American company Collins Aerospace for $1.8 billion.
- The activities sold by Collins are spread over eight plants in Europe (France, Italy and the UK) and Asia, with 3,700 employees involved.
- Microtecnica, the Italian subsidiary of the divested business, accounts for 15% of revenues with three plants. It specializes in mechanical and electronic components and services for military aircraft.
- Italian defense programs in which it is involved, such as the Tornado and Eurofighter combat aircraft and the MU90 torpedo, as well as the future GCAP program, a competitor to the Future Air Combat System (Scaf) involving Germany, France and Spain.
Safran: the Boeing 737 Max challenge, the only fly in the ointment - 15/02/2024
- Airbus reported an 11% increase in sales to 65.446 billion euros, with net income of 3.789 billion euros.
- Safran, Airbus' main supplier, increased its sales by 22% to 23.2 billion euros, with a gross margin of 13.6% or 3.16 billion euros.
- Safran's net profit was 3.44 billion euros.
- Safran delivers 1,570 Leap engines in 2023, 434 more than in 2022. Safran forecasts further growth of 20 to 25% in LEAP engine deliveries in 2024.
- in 2023, in civil engines, Safran's service business grew by 32.9% in dollar terms.
Sabena Technics opens new helicopter workshop in Provence - 10/01/2024
- Specialist in civil and military aircraft maintenance
- Following the acquisition of Aéromécanic in Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhône) in 2020, Sabena Technics moves to the Marseille Provence airport
- The group employs over 3,000 people at 18 sites worldwide, and generates sales of 700 million euros.
- strengthened in 2022 by the acquisition of Héli-Union, the supply and maintenance of military helicopters sector representsrepresents more than 450 employees working in Toussus le Noble, Pau, Angoulême and Marignane, and accounts for around a quarter of Sabena Technics' total sales.
Safran offers $1.8 billion for Collins flight orders - 22/07/2023
- Safran proposes to acquire Collins Aerospace's flight controls business for an enterprise value of $1.8 billion.
- The acquisition covers 8 manufacturing sites, 7 of which are in Europe (mainly the UK, France and Italy) and 1 in Asia, employing 3,700 people.
- By 2024, these plants are expected to generate sales of around $1.5 billion
- The customers of this Collins branch are 63% commercial aviation, 25% military aircraft and 12% helicopters.
- Collins is committed to generating a quarter of sales from its orders over the next few years.
- Safran forecasts a 50% increase in engine deliveries by 2023.
- Safran promises sales of 23 billion euros in 2023 (versus 19 billion euros in 2022)
Safran negotiates its biggest acquisition in five years with Raytheon - 08/06/2023
- Safran Group in talks to acquire a branch of Raytheon Technologies Corp
- Potential acquisition of certain flight control and actuation activities (ATA 27)
- Acquisition value could be around $1 billion
- Raytheon had sales of $67.1 billion in 2020
- Safran had sales of 19 billion euros
Safran forecasts a 50% increase in engine deliveries by 2023. - 20/02/2023
- Last year, Safran invested heavily in the space sector, with the acquisition of Orolia , Cilas and Syrlinks
- three companies that will enable Safran to rapidly reach half a billion euros in sales in space equipment
Companies quoted in this study
This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :
Choosing this study means :
Access to more than 35 hours of work
Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.
Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced
Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.
Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.
Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data
Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).
To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)
Guaranteed support after your purchase
A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676
A digital format designed for our users
Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.
Our offers :
the helicopter market | France
- What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
- What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
- What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
- Data from several dozen databases
Pack 5 études (-15%) France
- 5 études au prix de 75,6€HT par étude à choisir parmi nos 800 titres sur le catalogue France pendant 12 mois
- Conservez -15% sur les études supplémentaires achetées
- Choisissez le remboursement des crédits non consommés au terme des 12 mois (durée du pack)
Consultez les conditions du pack et de remboursement des crédits non consommés.
Our customer references
They have consulted our studies
Discover the opinions (+500)
Malcolm Vincent
Astoria Finance
Gregoire de Castelnau
Stags Participations
Timothé Huignard
PWC
Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff
BCG
Aymeric Granet
Publicis Consultant
interviews & case studies
All interviews and case studies (45)
