Medical services company Global Medical Response expands their fleet with the acquisition of 28 Airbus helicopters.
Global Medical Response Expands Air Ambulance Fleet with Airbus Helicopters
Global Medical Response (GMR), a leading player in the air medical industry with nearly 36,000 employees, has embarked on a significant expansion of its air ambulance fleet. This expansion, announced in late 2024 and ongoing into 2025, includes the addition of new Airbus helicopters to their fleet (source [1], [4]).
In July 2025, GMR opened its first dedicated air-medical base on Oʻahu, featuring the new Airbus H130 helicopter air ambulance. This model, staffed by a two-clinician critical-care crew, is capable of reaching any location on Oʻahu within 15 minutes, enhancing rapid emergency medical response capabilities (source [2], [4]).
This expansion is part of GMR’s broader plan to strengthen critical care services in both rural and urban areas, addressing healthcare access challenges and modernizing the air ambulance fleet. The new aircraft investments, including the Airbus H130, support timely transport and advanced care in hard-to-reach communities (source [1], [4]).
The order includes six H125s, five H130s, 14 H135s, and three H145s. GMR is anticipated to be among the first in North America to operate the IFR-capable H125 (source [3]). The single-engine H125 and H130 helicopters offer the best visibility in their class and are well-suited for HEMS missions. On the other hand, the H145 follows the H135 in the HEMS market, and both the H135 and H145 have a low acoustic footprint, making them the quietest helicopters in their class (source [4]).
Airbus Helicopters' Head of the North America Region, Bart Reijnen, has expressed pride in supporting Global Medical Response (GMR). GMR is already one of the largest operators of Airbus helicopters in North America, operating a fleet of nearly 200 Airbus helicopters (source [4]).
More than 30 Airbus helicopters have been added to GMR's fleet since 2021. The H125 is particularly adapted to demanding hot and high environments, making it an excellent choice for GMR's critical care missions across the country (source [4]). The H135 is the market leader in HEMS worldwide, further bolstering GMR's air medical capabilities (source [4]).
GMR operates 387 air base locations under various brands, providing compassionate, quality medical care across the U.S. and around the world. With this expansion, GMR continues to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing emergency medical services and improving healthcare access for diverse populations (source [4]).
It's worth noting that GMR's new Airbus helicopters are environmentally friendly, with CO2 emissions that are the lowest amongst their direct competitors. GMR also has the option to purchase an additional 23 new Airbus helicopters over the next three years (source [4]).
In conclusion, GMR's expansion plan includes adding Airbus H125, H130, H135, and H145 helicopters to their fleet, establishing new air-medical bases, and enhancing critical care transport efficiency for diverse populations — all indicating a strategic modernization and growth of their air medical services.
Sports teams often depend on reliable emergency services for player safety, and the expansion of Global Medical Response (GMR) air ambulance fleet with Airbus helicopters can offer improved medical response, thereby benefiting sports organizations across the United States and beyond. With the new Airbus helicopters, such as the H130, GMR can reach any sports venue quickly, providing timely medical care for injured athletes. This addition to GMR's fleet supports the modernization of emergency medical services in sports, ensuring the safety of all participants.
