Aircraft cost guide
AW139 Charter Cost Guide: Hourly Rates, Specifications & Real Route Pricing
The Leonardo AW139 is the medium twin most often requested for long VIP transfers, offshore rotations and group travel with luggage. This guide sets out what it actually costs to charter one — by region, by route and line by line — from a desk that operates no aircraft and sources competing operator offers.
What an AW139 charter costs per hour
Worldwide, AW139 charter pricing sits in a band of roughly USD 6,500 to 9,500 per flight hour for a VIP-configured aircraft with two pilots. That is two to three times a light single such as an H125, and roughly double a light twin like the H145 — the premium buys a stand-up cabin, a 1,060 km range, 306 km/h cruise and full Category A twin-engine performance.
| Region | Hourly band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Europe (France, Italy, Switzerland, UK) | EUR 6,500 – 9,500 | Includes two pilots and standard VIP cabin; Riviera and Alpine peak season at the top of the band. |
| United Arab Emirates & wider Gulf | USD 6,000 – 8,500 | Strong AW139 availability in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; offshore-configured aircraft price lower than VIP fits. |
| United States (Northeast, Florida, Gulf Coast) | USD 7,000 – 10,000 | Part 135 VIP AW139s are scarcer than light twins, so repositioning drives more of the total. |
| Brazil (São Paulo, Rio) | USD 6,500 – 9,000 | Large installed base in São Paulo; short intra-city legs still carry a one-hour minimum. |
| Southeast Asia & Australia | USD 7,500 – 11,000 | Fewer VIP-configured airframes; expect positioning from a regional base. |
AW139 specifications at a glance
| Manufacturer / class | Leonardo — medium twin-engine, category A certified |
| Passengers | 12 in high-density fit; 6–8 in a VIP club or executive cabin |
| Cabin | Stand-up 8.0 m³ cabin, optional galley and lavatory, full soundproofing |
| Cruise speed | 306 km/h (165 kt) — the fastest medium twin in regular charter service |
| Range | 1,060 km (573 nm) with standard tanks; ~2 h 45 m endurance with reserves |
| Engines | Twin Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C with FADEC, full OEI performance |
| MTOW | 7,000 kg |
| Baggage | Up to 350 kg in a dedicated external compartment |
| Avionics | Full IFR, four-axis autopilot, two-pilot operation standard |
| Safety | 60-minute run-dry main gearbox, HUMS monitoring, Category A takeoff/landing |
Typical AW139 routes and what they price at
Figures are indicative all-in ranges for exclusive use of the aircraft, based on offers we see from vetted operators. Season, positioning and event demand move them materially — request a live quote for your exact date.
| Route | Flight time | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai → Abu Dhabi (130 km) | ~30 min | USD 8,000 – 12,000 round trip | City helipad to city helipad; avoids the E11 entirely. |
| Nice → Monaco (22 km) | 7 min | EUR 5,500 – 8,000 for exclusive use | Oversized for the leg — chartered for privacy, luggage or Grand Prix week groups. |
| London → Paris (340 km) | ~1 h 50 m | GBP 14,000 – 20,000 | Within AW139 range without a fuel stop; two-pilot IFR throughout. |
| Milan → Portofino (160 km) | ~40 min | EUR 7,500 – 11,000 | Lands minutes from the marina; 350 kg baggage bay suits yacht transfers. |
| Doha → offshore platform (180 km) | ~45 min | USD 9,000 – 13,000 | Offshore-configured AW139s with floats and HUET-trained crew. |
| São Paulo → Angra dos Reis (200 km) | ~50 min | USD 8,500 – 12,500 | Popular weekend routing; strong local AW139 availability. |
Dubai to Abu Dhabi: the benchmark AW139 sector
The UAE has one of the densest AW139 populations anywhere, split between offshore energy operators and VIP charter fleets. A Dubai–Abu Dhabi transfer is about 130 km, flown helipad to helipad in roughly 30 minutes against 90 minutes or more by road in traffic. Exclusive use of a VIP AW139 for a same-day return typically lands between USD 8,000 and 12,000, including ground waiting time. For eight passengers that is a defensible cost per seat on a schedule a car cannot guarantee. See our quote desk for live UAE availability.
Nice to Monaco: when the AW139 is deliberately oversized
The 22 km Nice–Monaco shuttle is normally flown by light twins, and an AW139 on that leg is chosen for a reason — a large party arriving together, significant luggage from a jet transfer, or complete privacy during Grand Prix week. Expect EUR 5,500 to 8,000 for exclusive use once minimum flight time and Monaco handling are applied. Detail on schedules and alternatives is in our Nice to Monaco guide and the French Riviera transfer guide.
What actually appears on an AW139 quote
| Hourly charter rate | The headline number. Covers aircraft, two pilots, insurance and standard fuel burn. |
| Positioning / ferry time | Often the largest hidden line. If the nearest AW139 is 40 minutes away, you pay 80 minutes of flying before your first passenger boards. |
| Minimum flight time | Most operators bill a one-hour minimum per leg or a two-hour daily minimum, even on a seven-minute hop. |
| Landing and handling fees | EUR 150–900 per movement depending on the helipad; airport-based movements cost more than private pads. |
| Crew overnight / duty | EUR 400–900 per night per crew member on multi-day itineraries, plus duty-day extensions. |
| VIP cabin premium | A VIP-configured AW139 with galley and lavatory typically prices 10–20% above a utility or offshore fit. |
| Permits and slots | Cross-border legs, event airspace and city-centre pads can add fixed permit costs and lead-time constraints. |
The single most effective way to reduce an AW139 quote is to shorten positioning. Chartering an aircraft already based near your departure point can remove one to two billed hours before anyone boards. The second is to keep the aircraft with you on a round trip rather than releasing and re-positioning it between legs.
AW139 versus the alternatives
| Aircraft | Pax | Range | Cruise | Hourly band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo AW139 | 8 VIP / 12 max | 1,060 km | 306 km/h | USD 6,500 – 9,500/h | Long VIP transfers, offshore, head-of-state, group travel with luggage |
| Airbus H145 | 8 | 690 km | 250 km/h | USD 3,800 – 5,200/h | Shorter executive legs where a medium twin is oversized |
| Leonardo AW109 | 6 | 800 km | 285 km/h | USD 3,600 – 4,900/h | Fast light twin for two to six passengers |
| Bell 429 | 7 | 720 km | 287 km/h | USD 3,400 – 4,600/h | Corporate IFR shuttle, flat-floor cabin |
If your party is four or fewer and the sector is under 100 km, a light twin will do the same job for materially less. The AW139 earns its rate on range, cabin volume, baggage capacity and all-weather twin-engine IFR capability. Compare airframes on our fleet page.
When the AW139 is the right choice
- Six to eight passengers with luggage — the 350 kg baggage bay and stand-up cabin have no light-twin equivalent.
- Sectors of 200–1,000 km — flown non-stop where a light twin needs a fuel stop.
- Night, over-water or marginal weather — two pilots, full IFR and Category A performance.
- Offshore energy rotations — floats, HUET-trained crews and HUMS monitoring as standard.
- Head-of-state and security-sensitive movements — the reference airframe in this category worldwide.
How we price AW139 charters
SkyMatch operates no aircraft. We source competing offers from vetted AW139 operators in your region, normalise them to a single all-in landed cost — including positioning, minimums, handling and crew — and present them side by side. If a lighter airframe achieves your mission for less, we say so. More on the desk on our personal concierge page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charter an AW139 per hour?
An AW139 charters for roughly USD 6,500 to 9,500 per flight hour worldwide, with Western Europe typically EUR 6,500–9,500 and the Gulf USD 6,000–8,500. The rate includes the aircraft, two pilots and fuel. Positioning time, landing fees, crew overnights and minimum flight-time policies are billed on top, so a short leg on a medium twin rarely settles below the equivalent of one to two hours of flying.
How many passengers can an AW139 carry?
Up to 12 in a high-density configuration and typically 6 to 8 in a VIP club layout with wider seats, a galley and in some airframes a lavatory. It is one of the few charter helicopters with a genuine stand-up cabin, which is why it is chosen for longer executive sectors rather than short hops.
What is the range of an AW139?
About 1,060 km (573 nm) with standard tanks, or roughly 2 hours 45 minutes of endurance including reserves. That covers London–Paris, Dubai–Doha and most Mediterranean island crossings without a fuel stop. Auxiliary tanks extend this further at the cost of payload.
Is the AW139 worth the premium over a light twin?
It is when the mission needs the cabin, the range or the weather resilience. For two to four passengers on a 20-minute leg, an AW109 or H145 delivers the same result for 40–50% less. For eight passengers with luggage, a 300 km sector, night or over-water flying, or a client who expects to stand up in the cabin, the AW139 is the correct aircraft and the premium is justified.
Why is the AW139 popular for offshore and government work?
Category A performance, a 60-minute run-dry gearbox, twin FADEC engines, full IFR with a two-pilot crew and HUMS health monitoring make it the default medium twin for offshore energy, SAR and head-of-state transport. Those same attributes are why VIP operators trust it for long over-water and night sectors.
Can I charter an AW139 in Dubai for a same-day Abu Dhabi trip?
Yes. The UAE has one of the densest AW139 populations in the world and same-day availability is common outside major event weeks. A Dubai–Abu Dhabi return is typically USD 8,000–12,000 for exclusive use, flown helipad to helipad in about 30 minutes each way.
What drives AW139 charter prices up or down?
Positioning distance from the operator's base, cabin configuration (VIP versus utility), season, event demand, night or IFR crewing requirements, and whether the aircraft waits on the ground for you or repositions between legs. Booking a round trip with a short ground wait is almost always cheaper than two separate one-way charters.
Related reading
- Helicopter charter pricing guide — how block hours, minimums and repositioning are billed.
- Single vs twin-engine helicopters — which airframe class your mission requires.
- Helicopter vs private jet — cost and door-to-door time under 300 km.
- Charter budget planner — model your own route and aircraft class.