Greek Helicopter Operator HOPER Adds Airbus AS355 and H135 to Fleet

Athens-based helicopter operator HOPER acquired two Airbus helicopters in June, adding an Airbus AS355 Ecureuil 2 and an Airbus H135 to its existing seven-helicopter fleet. Both aircraft are leased. Dimitris Kossyfas, HOPER's chief commercial officer, said demand for twin-engine helicopters has grown among the company's luxury hospitality partners, which include Scott Dunn, Aman, Mandarin Oriental and Original Senses. "More clients are learning to value the speed and convenience of helicopter transfers between islands compared with long and sometimes choppy boat crossings," Kossyfas said.

The AS355 Ecureuil 2 seats five passengers and is suited to transfers across the Aegean, while the H135 carries six passengers and features anti-vibration technology and a club-style cabin. HOPER says the H135's relatively quiet cabin makes it suitable for families and groups travelling between multiple islands. The expanded fleet will support private charters including transfers to and from private yachts, VIP movements and customised itineraries. HOPER's existing network includes Robinson, Bell, Airbus and Leonardo aircraft operated by vetted partner operators.

HOPER's most popular route connects Santorini and Mykonos, a distance of approximately 118 kilometres. A ferry journey between the two islands can take more than three hours, while a HOPER helicopter flight takes less than 40 minutes, according to the company. Founded in 2024, HOPER operates private charters and runs a digital marketplace through which customers can book scheduled helicopter seats and private flights from partner operators. The company says almost half of its bookings now take place online. HOPER is preparing for what it expects could be a busier summer 2027 season.

Leasing rather than buying lets a young operator add twin-engine capacity quickly when hospitality partners signal demand, without committing to the longer timelines and capital of outright ownership. HOPER's model pairs that leased core fleet with a wider network of partner-operated Robinson, Bell, Airbus and Leonardo aircraft, plus a digital marketplace that already handles close to half its bookings — a structure that spreads fleet risk across partners while the operator controls the customer-facing brand and booking channel.

The Santorini-Mykonos comparison, a sub-40-minute flight against a ferry crossing of more than three hours over roughly 118 kilometres, is the commercial case luxury partners are buying into: time saved on short island hops rather than long-haul range. Whether the AS355 and H135 additions are enough to meet the demand Kossyfas describes will show up in utilisation and in whether HOPER leases further aircraft ahead of the summer 2027 season it is anticipating.