Italian operator Elitaliana has taken delivery of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter courtesy of Lease Corporation International (LCI), the aviation division of the Libra Group.

The helicopter, which is being converted for HEMS from oil and gas operations, is the second of its type operated by Elitaliana. It enters service alongside three AW169 helicopters delivered by LCI in 2016, 2017 and 2018, operating from Elitaliana's EMS bases in Rome and the Lazio region.

The latest arrival was transported to Italy from Malaysia following a long-term lease from LCI to Weststar Aviation Services, the largest offshore helicopter operator in south east Asia.

Manfredo de Windisch Graetz of Elitaliana says: “As our EMS operations in Italy continue to expand, we are delighted to welcome our second AW139 helicopter to the fleet, utilising the skills of our long-term partner LCI to grow our operations.”

LCI has also recently moved another AW139 helicopter from Malaysia to Nigeria. Its executive chairman Crispin Maunder comments: “We have worked with numerous customers to successfully augment their operations by transitioning helicopters between operators, sectors and locations across the globe. Some of these transitions have involved significant changes from one role to another, ocean or air transportation, cross border tax considerations and other complexities, all of which we can manage.

“Elitaliana has been a trusted partner for many years, and we are delighted to continue supporting one of Italy's leading helicopter operators."