Soaring demand for fixed wing aeromedical services combined with an investment in new helicopters, base builds and training has propelled LifeFlight to another record year. Data shows the Australian aeromedical organisation's medical teams, helicopter and jet fleets helped 8,497 people in the 2025 financial year, 3.9 per cent higher than the previous year.

LifeFlight's Challenger 604 jets based in Townsville, Brisbane and Singapore, airlifted 1,050 people with Townsville's number increasing a staggering 86 per cent to 601. LifeFlight's helicopter crews, operating from bases on the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Mount Isa, Toowoomba, Roma and Brisbane, clocked up 3,732 missions over the year.

There were 817 people helped from motor vehicle accidents, 15 per cent higher than FY24, while people airlifted with cardiac problems were four per cent higher at 1,075 and patients with animal-related injuries were up five per cent to 166.

LifeFlight embarked on new base builds at Mount Isa and the Sunshine Coast, welcomed three new AW139 helicopters to its fleet and inked a $250 million partnership with Italian aircraft manufacturer Leonardo.

A new aeromedical precinct is also under construction at Brisbane airport and will bring together the state's aeromedical healthcare providers under one roof and connect more regional, rural and remote Queenslanders to major hospitals and life-saving medical care. The Brisbane-based crew helped 562 people and clocked up 1,270 flying hours, while the jets aided 440 people.

LifeFlight chief operating officer Lee Schofield says the year was one of the most significant in the not-for-profit's history. “Every hour we are called upon to airlift Queenslanders in distress, whether it's hikers stranded on mountains, capsized boaties kilometres out to sea or people needing urgent medical attention in major hospitals,” he states. “It's a mission our aeromedical crews carry out with great dedication with the goal of bringing equity in healthcare no matter where and when people need us. My sincere thanks go to all LifeFlight's staff for the incredible work they do. Team effort and coordination across all our work groups is key to providing the world class standard of care and ensuring equity of health care in regional communities.

“To continue to meet this objective, we're evolving our organisation with the best aircraft, advanced bases and facilities, and cutting-edge training unmatched in our region. Over the next year we'll be opening new bases on the Sunshine Coast and Mount Isa as well as adding new aircraft to better service those regions.”

Schofield goes on to says that LifeFlight's growth was possible due to the support from the community, donors and philanthropy, government and new commercial partnerships. “This generosity and support enable LifeFlight to keep helping more people each year as demand for our services continues to increase.”

LifeFlight's aeromedical helicopter crews completed a number of highly complex missions during the year. August last year recorded the highest number of patients helped at 788, more than any other single month in the organisation's 46-year history.

Much of LifeFlight's aeromedical work involved Inter-Facility Transfers (IFT) or moving patients between medical facilities. This ensures all communities have equal access to the best possible healthcare, no matter where they live.

The Townsville jet base of LifeFlight is celebrating a banner financial year after airlifting a record number of patients in the 2025 financial year.

LifeFlight general manager, commercial operations, Tyson Smith, said the year was a watershed moment in the organisation's 21-year jet history. “This year we've capitalised on years of experience to extend and deliver our services more effectively to more people. The Ushuaia mission was our first visit to South America since 2008, but more importantly was completed at the same time as other long haul international missions.

“We're one of a few aeromedical providers with integrated bases across two continents, with the capability to manage concurrent high-acuity patient transfers across multiple timezones and regions. We can do this because we have highly skilled intensive care medical teams and pilots backed by our team in C3 (LifeFlight's communication, coordination and control centre) in Brisbane with extensive knowledge and expertise built up over decades of operations.”

LifeFlight medical director Dr Jeff Hooper, said LifeFlight's air ambulances were equipped with the latest in medical technology. “The jet crews provide the best possible care in-flight whether that is stabilising patients or performing complex procedures mid-air,” Dr Hooper said. “This rapid aeromedical intervention increases a patient's chance of survival and is often the difference between life and death. It comes after our crews undertake intensive training at the LifeFlight Training Academy, which prepares them for any situation they may face.”

Dr Hooper said a key part of LifeFlight's mission was developing and delivering free First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops. “This incredible initiative helps to build community resilience by giving participants the practical skills to manage life-threatening events such as motor vehicle accidents, farming incidents, stroke and snake bites.”