Regional Overview – Civil Helicopter Fleet Report YE 2021

The largest market in Asia-Pacific is Australia — with 908 operational civil turbine helicopters at the end of 2021. This was followed by mainland China, Japan, New Zealand, and India, with 766, 680, 564, and 284 helicopters, respectively. Altogether, the fleet size of the top five countries accounted for more than 70% of the total 4,458 turbine helicopters in the region.

 Australia and New Zealand saw the most new additions in 2021, with 32 and 22 helicopters, respectively. The Philippines and Indonesia also saw notable increases in their fleets. However, mainland China, which previously saw the most additions in 2020 with 54 units, has now recorded the most deductions in 2021 – six.

Oceania saw the greatest increase in turbine helicopters in 2021 with 51 units, equivalent to 3% growth since the end of 2020. Southeast Asia and East Asia also experienced an increase in their helicopter fleets by 14 units (2% growth) and seven units (1% growth) respectively. Greater China, the only region to see negative growth in 2021, dropped from the top to the bottom in ranking, mainly as a result of a major EMS operator’s bankruptcy and its fleet being stored.

Country Snapshots

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Australia

Being the largest and most mature civil turbine helicopter market in APAC, Australia’s fleet totaled 908 helicopters at the end of 2021. This was 32 more helicopters when compared to 2020. 2021 saw 30 helicopters leaving, whilst ten new and 52 pre-owned helicopters were added. Australia’s SAR segment also saw the most deductions in 2021 – four fewer than 2020.

Greater China

Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan, had a total of 816 helicopters in 2021. This was nine less than 2020, mainly resulting from six deductions from mainland China. 2021 also saw three helicopters deducted from Taiwan. There were no changes to the helicopter fleets in Macao and Hong Kong. Overall, in Greater China, the H125 and Bell 407 dominated the fleet.

Japan

Japan ranked third in Asia-Pacific with 680 helicopters during 2021. Compared to 2020, there were seven additional helicopters, equivalent to a growth rate of 1%. Japan also remained at the top in the EMS segment, with 84 helicopters at the end of 2021.

New Zealand

New Zealand had 564 helicopters in its fleet at the end of 2021, having seen a net addition of 22 helicopters during the year. There were 36 pre-owned additions and five new deliveries, whilst 19 helicopters left the country.

India

India had 284 helicopters at the end of 2021, which was four fewer than in 2020. This gave the country a negative growth rate of -1%. India also ranked third in Asia-Pacific in the offshore segment, with 47 helicopters at the end of 2021.

South Korea

South Korea’s fleet saw a 1% drop between 2020 and 2021, leaving the country with a total of 229 aircraft. This decrease is mainly the result of the reduction in the offshore segment. Russian Helicopters had the biggest market share in South Korea.

Indonesia

Seeing a net fleet addition in 2021 with ten aircraft, Indonesia’s helicopter fleet had nine new deliveries, 12 pre-owned helicopter additions, and 11 reductions. The offshore segment also saw a continuous reduction in fleet size between 2019 and 2021.

Malaysia

Malaysia had 131 helicopters in 2021 – five less than at the end of 2020. The country’s fleet gained four new and eight pre-owned helicopters in 2021, however, 17 aircraft also left its fleet.

Papua New Guinea (PNG)

PNG’s helicopter fleet decreased by 2%, however, it was a much smaller decrease compared to 2020s 12%. In total, three pre-owned aircraft joined the fleet, with five aircraft also leaving in 2021.

Philippines

The Philippines saw an overall addition of 13 helicopters in 2021, thus contributing to the country’s increase in ranking for net fleet growth in 2021. The Philippines jumped from the ninth to third rank, with an 8% growth rate. Although five helicopters did leave the country, nine new and nine pre-owned helicopters also joined.

Thailand

The country had 100 helicopters at the end of 2021, with only a net deduction of one helicopter in the year, making it a reduction of 1% over 2020. As such, the decline has slowed down since 2020. Overall, there were four pre-owned helicopter additions, whilst five helicopters were also removed.