Lease Corporation International (LCI), the aviation division of the Libra Group, is experiencing its busiest and most successful year to date in 2016, with its fleet, customer base and operation all rapidly expanding.

The leading helicopter lessor now has 35 helicopters in its own lease portfolio, and expects to have a total of 40 in operation by the year end, largely made up of Leonardo AW139, AW169 and AW189 aircraft.

A total of 18 new helicopters will be delivered to LCI this year alone, and all are being placed with operators and undertaking a variety of roles including emergency medical services, offshore wind energy servicing, search and rescue, and oil and gas.

To cater for the growing size of its operation, LCI has created six new positions. These include the recent appointment of Christopher Grainger as Vice President Marketing for the EMEA region, along with five additional executives in the operational, legal and financial departures.

Crispin Maunder, Executive Chairman of LCI, says: “2016 is without doubt turning out to be our most successful year to date. By carefully managing our order book, and ensuring a diversified approach to helicopter placement, we are seeing ever-increasing demand for the new medium sized helicopters entering our fleet.

“We are currently taking delivery of at least one helicopter each month, and placing them in a variety of different roles, with EMS currently the fastest growing sector.”

LCI’s helicopter division comprises a fleet of 90 helicopters delivered or on order or under management, including the market-leading AgustaWestland AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters and next-generation Airbus Helicopters’ H175.