Bristow U.S. LLC (“Bristow”) today announced an alliance with Fly Blade, Inc. (“Blade”) within the greater New York area. Under the agreement, Bristow is providing the aircraft, crew and maintenance for Blade’s new cabin service, with Blade providing the ground support, passenger booking, on-the-ground experience and marketing.

“Bristow remains a proven leader for aviation services to our offshore clients. We are excited to fly with Blade to operate safe and fast helicopter service to passengers traveling between numerous Northeast locations, including all area airports,” said Samantha Willenbacher, Bristow’s global director commercial strategy. “Bristow has a long history of providing safe and reliable helicopter transportation services around the world, including as the official helicopter operator on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard in the UK, and we are proud to introduce our helicopter service to the New York market.”

Branded as Blade’s Ultra service, Bristow is utilizing Sikorsky S-76 C++ aircraft for the flights. Two highly skilled and trained pilots operate the aircraft powered by twin Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turbine engines that fly with a cruise speed of 160 miles per.

Ultra I, available for Blade fliers now, features a new spacious cabin interior with leather seating accommodating up to eight passengers per flight. The helicopter’s large baggage compartment holds between six and eight golf bags and more luggage than any other helicopter in Blade’s accessible fleet.

Ultra II, expected to arrive later this summer, will feature a six-seat executive-style cabin interior including two captain’s chairs. It is the perfect aircraft for long-haul travel with smaller groups.

Customers booking the Ultra service also have access to Blade’s Manhattan lounges. Every Blade lounge provides a sleek venue for fliers to unwind and relax before and after their flight.

“We see a tremendous opportunity with Bristow to offer high-end on-demand helicopter service within the greater New York area. We look forward to providing the same unique experience that many New Yorkers have come to enjoy with Blade, while flying the best cabin class helicopters in the industry today,” said Rob Wiesenthal, founder and chief executive officer of Blade.

Blade Ultra is available on a charter, crowdsourced and scheduled basis, and can be booked directly on flyblade.com or on the Blade app. Blade’s Ultra is also available to other key destinations in the Northeast, including Nantucket, Boston, Washington D.C. as well as all airports in the New York area.

Bristow is also exploring opportunities to leverage Blade’s crowdsourcing technologies to enhance operating efficiencies in the company’s core operations.