India-based helicopter operator Heritage Aviation has signed a contract for one Airbus H130 helicopter to further expand its heli-pilgrimage and regional connectivity operations under the government of India’s UDAN scheme (Ude desh ka aam nagrik). The contract was signed at Wings India 2026 with delivery scheduled for September 2026.

The newly contracted H130 will be deployed for passenger transportation, heli-pilgrimage and regional connectivity missions, complementing Heritage Aviation’s existing fleet of Airbus H125 and H130 helicopters currently operating under the UDAN scheme.

“The helicopter industry in India is witnessing strong tailwinds due to the government of India’s favourable policies and strong demand environment. The new H130 will be used to expand our regional connectivity footprint in other areas including north east India, which largely remains virgin territory for private helicopter operations,” comments Rohit Mathur, founder and CEO, Heritage Aviation.

“Heritage Aviation has been instrumental in bridging the last mile connectivity gap, which only helicopters can effectively do across India’s remote and hard-to-access terrains. This new addition will not only expand heli-pilgrimage routes in the country but also support the government of India’s ambitions to widen the regional connectivity network. Airbus Helicopters remains committed to developing the critical para-public market with the right products and through our long-term partnership with India,” adds Sunny Guglani, head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia.

Known for its high performance, economic efficiency, reliability and comfort, the H130 is a single-engine helicopter that is widely used for sightseeing, charter and passenger transport missions. Featuring a spacious cabin that can accommodate a pilot and up to seven passengers, the H130 combines advanced avionics, state-of-the-art systems and efficient performance, making it well suited for operations in environmentally sensitive and mountainous regions.

Heritage Aviation has been at the forefront of strengthening helicopter connectivity in India, particularly in the state of Uttarakhand. The operator offers services across segments, such as heli-tourism, aerial services, rescue missions and major disaster-relief operations. The company has been among the first private operators to operationalise challenging routes such as Dehradun-Pithoragarh and Haldwani-Munsyari, improving access to remote and underserved regions.