The contract is part of Spain's national plan for wildfire prevention and emergency response, supporting regional authorities during fires. Under the contract, Avincis will deploy 10 helicopters between 2025-2027.

In the first month after reopening, flights to Santa Maria have accounted for 36 per cent of Avincis' emergency medical helicopter operation on behalf of INEM and represented 81 per cent of all medical emergency flights.

Inaer Portugal has been flying missions for the Portuguese national health service (INEM) since 2000, transporting seriously ill patients by helicopter, either to hospital or between hospitals.