The air ambulance services market is moderately fragmented, with the presence of a large number of players operating across different regions. The need for air ambulance services is mainly driven by higher demand during emergency medical cases wherein the patients are required to be transferred to another suitable location for their medical treatment. Various authorities across different regions have been taking initiatives to establish an air ambulance infrastructure across their respective locations.
Several state governments across different countries have also been investing heavily in the construction of new helipads or runways to provide a better service for emergency medical needs. For instance, in July 2023, the state government of Maharashtra, India, announced its plans to establish 16 new helipads specifically for air ambulances on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. In April 2023, RED Health (a Hyderabad-based startup) introduced air ambulance services for more than 550 cities across India. In May 2021, the US-based helicopter transport services provider Blade’s Indian subsidiary launched its air ambulance services due to an increase in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic also boosted the demand for air ambulance services across different regions due to the rise in the number of medical transportation emergencies. This further pushed new companies to come forward and contribute to the betterment of medical ecosystems across different countries. Several new companies in the air ambulance market have received good recognition in terms of the support they have provided during the COVID-19 emergencies. Currently, the majority of such companies have started to provide air ambulance services for non-COVID emergency cases, which is driving the growth of the air ambulance market across different regions.
Geographically, the scope of the air ambulance services market report is primarily divided into North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Russia, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (South Korea, China, India, Japan, Australia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific), the Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South America (Brazil and the Rest of ). In terms of revenue, North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are leading regions, followed by the Middle East & Africa and South America.
The growing healthcare infrastructure in terms of building new multi-specialty hospitals and care centers, along with a rising focus on healthcare facilities such as emergency medical assistance services, is anticipated to boost the growth of the air ambulance services market globally. The mounting prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and stroke and the growing consumer preference for emergency medical services for improved and immediate medical attention are boosting the demand for air ambulance services in countries such as the US, Russia, China, India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. The development of hospital infrastructure to provide air medical services for critical patient transportation is boosting the growth of the air ambulance services market globally. For instance, in 2022, Mercy Hospital, Fort Smith (US), constructed a new helipad as a part of its air ambulance services. In 2022, St. Francis Hospital inaugurated its new helipad location with an inaugural helicopter landing as a part of its air ambulance services. The growing government focus on improving rural healthcare infrastructure is expected to bring air ambulance services market trends in the coming years.
Strategic Partnerships, Contracts, and Agreements by Key Market Players Steering Market Growth
Several key players in the market are adopting strategies such as partnerships, contracts, and agreements with healthcare service providers to facilitate air ambulance services. For instance, in June 2023, Ascent Helicopters, an air ambulance service provider in Canada, was awarded a contract worth US$ 544.4 million from BC Emergency Health Services for 10 years, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the contract will be commenced in the last quarter of 2024. Babcock International Group Plc delivers critical services to defense and civil customers, including engineering support for naval, land, air, and nuclear operations. The company also received several contracts from hospitals and government authorities to offer air ambulance services globally. For instance, in 2022, Babcock International Group Plc received a contract worth US$ 256 million from the Canadian aviation business to offer air ambulance services for the 10-year contract that commences in 2025. In March 2024, Ambulance Victoria (AV) extended its contract with Babcock International Group Plc to provide air ambulance services in Australia. The company has a team of paramedics, doctors, and nurses to provide care for patients in Victoria, Australia. Therefore, the rise in strategic partnerships, contracts, and agreements across the globe by the key players is expected to be a major trend in the air ambulance services market during the forecast period.
Air Ambulance Services Market Analysis: Aircraft Type Overview
Based on type, the global air ambulance services market is divided into rotary wing and fixed wing. Among these, the rotary wing segment accounted for a larger market share in 2023. This can be attributed to the rising demand for emergency medical services to transport patients to hospitals. The increasing use of air ambulance services in North American countries, including the US, Canada, and Mexico, is driving the market growth. According to the American Action Forum Organization, in August 2023, ~550,000 patients used air ambulance services in the US. The air ambulance is a medical aircraft designed and equipped with medical devices to facilitate the transfer of injured and sick patients. Also, air ambulance is used to transfer patients from one place to another across the countries and continents. According to the Information Ministry of Civil Aviation, in March 2022, 49 air ambulances, including rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft, were operated by 19 operators across India.
Air Ambulance Services Market Analysis: Service Model Overview
Based on service model, the global air ambulance services market is divided into hospital-based, governmentrun, and independent. Among these, the hospital-based segment is growing at a rapid pace owing to the increasing adoption of air ambulance services to offer critical care for patients. Several hospitals are offering air ambulance services by making partnerships and collaborations with air ambulance service providers. For instance, in April 2023, the Aster Group of hospital healthcare providers in India collaborated with Bluedot Group, the air ambulance service provider in South Asia and the Middle East. Bluedot Group has Medevac aircraft with highly skilled and qualified medical staff. The company provides air ambulances in India, Riyad, and Saudi Arabia.
Air Ambulance Services Market Analysis: End User Overview
Based on end user, the global air ambulance market is divided into domestic and international. Among these, the market for the domestic segment is growing at a rapid pace. This can be attributed to the rising number of helicopter emergency services that transport patients short distances globally. STARS, a Canada-based air ambulance services provider, launched a virtual care trial program by partnering with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). The initiative allowed STARS to transport patients to the local healthcare providers. This helped the critically ill and injured patients to receive immediate treatment support at the domestic level.
Several companies are offering air ambulance services across various continents. For instance, in the US, REVA provides domestic air ambulance services for patients. The company has 16 aircraft and 3 hubs to offer medical flights for patients nationwide. The presence of companies offering air ambulance services drives the market growth during the forecast period. The domestic segment held a larger share of the air ambulance services market in 2023, accounting for 66.2%, and is expected to account for 68.2% by 2031.
Air Ambulance Services Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments
Air Methods, Aero-Dienst GmbH, Airlec Air Espace, Babcock International Group Plc, Trust Air Aviation Ltd, FAI Aviation Group, IAS Medical, Medical Air Service, PHI Air Medical, and Quick Air Jet Charter GmbH are among the key players profiled in the air ambulance services market report. In addition, several other important market participants have been studied and analyzed during the study to get a holistic view of the air ambulance services market and its ecosystem. New product innovation, joint ventures in terms of product innovation, and geographical expansion are among the key business strategies followed by the market players. As per company press releases, below are a few recent key developments:
| Year | News | Country |
| 2023 | FAI rent-a-jet GmbH’s Air Ambulance Division announced that it had received accreditation from the European Aeromedical Institute (EURAMI) for the fifth time for both long-range, intercontinental fixed-wing and regional fixed-wing air ambulance services. This includes medical endorsements for adult critical care, advanced adult critical care, pediatric critical care, and neonatal critical care. The accreditation covers 15 aircraft in the FAI fleet, which includes its Bombardier family models: Global Express, Challenger 850, Challenger 604 and Learjet 60. | North America |
| 2023 | TrustAir Aviation and ARworks, two Hungarian companies, have jointly developed a unique and innovative VR training application for simulating the specific conditions of air medical transport. This ground-breaking application allows for the use and exploitation of VR technology and the benefits provided by artificial intelligence in a healthcare context that has not been utilized before. | Europe |