Monacair (QM, Monte Carlo) has signed a firm order agreement with Airbus Helicopters (ECF, Marseilles) for six H130s the first of which is due or delivery next month with the remainder to be phased in through to May 2016.

The H130 comes from the Ecureuil family of light helicopters and accommodates one pilot and up to six passengers.

The helicopters will be the Monégasque operator's first in-house machines joining the rest of its fleet of twenty helicopters, half of which are Airbus Helicopters.

Specializing in private VIP helicopter management, Monacair will begin scheduled Monte Carlo-Nice, France flights in January of next year having wrestled the contract away from incumbent operator, Heli Air Monaco (YO, Monte Carlo), following a government tender this past summer.

Heli Air Monaco plans to open other scheduled services and to focus more on scheduled charter services in the future, one of its main activities today already.