Lions Air Group, which focuses on the management of high-end VIP aircraft and helicopters and holds two Swiss AOCs, has handled hundreds of flights this year, including many to the World Economic Forum in Davos. During WEF, the company flew daily from the hubs Zurich-Kloten, Zurich-Dübendorf, Geneva and Altenrhein with its helicopters to Davos. The company operates bases in Bern, Zurich, Balzers, Birrfeld, Andorra and London.

In 2011, Alpine Air Ambulance AAA joined the group of companies, with which Lions Air Group launched a new Swiss air rescue and repatriation provider. The focus today is on air rescues, repatriations and patient transfers. In addition, AAA also offers transport of stable non-emergency patients with ground ambulances or wheelchair taxis. Since summer 2012, the company has been mandated by Swisstransplant for all national and international organ transports. Since 2013, the intensive care and rescue helicopter ‘Lions 1’ has been stationed at Birrfeld Airfield. Via the emergency call centre 144, the base is integrated into the rescue networks of the surrounding cantons and also contributes to the emergency care of the southern German region. Emergency physicians, paramedics and pilots are on standby around the clock – they are called up when they can be at the scene of an emergency most quickly. Short flight times increase the chances of survival and reduce the risk of consequential damage to emergency patients. In 2017 the three partners, DRF Luftrettung, ARA Flugrettung and AAA, founded AP3 Luftrettung, which has since strengthened cross-border air rescue in theGerman, Austrian and Swiss Alpine region. Less than a year after its foundation, AP3 Luftrettung opened its first air rescue station in Balzers in Liechtenstein in December 2018. Today, AAA operates bases in Birrfeld, Balzers, Bern, Andorra and Zurich.

“The current year has been very busy, and very demanding in the ambulance sector as well as in the high-end VIP sector. So, in the HEMS area, we put a special COVID-19 helicopter into operation. In the business sector, European traffic has increased, while long-haul flights have been significantly reduced,” comments head of communications Petra Seeburger. “Lions Air Group operates a large fleet of four jets, twelve helicopters and more than 20 ambulance vehicles. The entire fleet is equipped with the latest technology. All means are subjected to regular control checks so that Lions Air Group can always guarantee the highest quality standards and maximum safety.

“In the HEMS sector, the AAA was the first HEMS provider in Europe to install a special COVID-19 helicopter. In the meantime, the company has carried out numerous transfers of COVID-19 patients in and between Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. With the aircraft, return flights were carried out between European countries, especially at the beginning of the pandemic.

“We always strive to continue what has been proven and to address improvements where they are necessary. In addition, we would like to see an improvement in the pandemic situation for everyone, because we are all affected.”