Agusta A109 Grand vs Airbus H145: which VIP helicopter for your charter?

Two aircraft cover the large majority of our VIP charters: the Agusta A109 Grand and the Airbus H145. Choosing between them comes down to four things — seats, speed, cabin and cost.

The A109 Grand carries up to six passengers; the H145 up to eight. If your party is five or six, the A109 is almost always the right call. At seven or eight — or six-plus-luggage — the H145's cabin earns its keep. For five or fewer on a budget, the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel is worth a look.

The A109 is the quicker aircraft — roughly 155 knots cruise against the H145's ~130. On a longer cross-country leg that gap adds up, which is why the A109 is our default for time-critical single-passenger and small-group transfers.

The H145 wins on space and smoothness. Its five-blade main rotor is quieter and less buzzy than the A109's, and the cabin is taller with a flat floor and more baggage room. For anything over about 45 minutes with a full load, that comfort is the deciding factor for many groups.

Rule of thumb: A109 for speed and discretion up to six; H145 for space, smoothness and up to eight. Everything else — landing sites, IFR capability, twin-engine safety — both do well.

The H145 carries the higher hourly rate as the larger machine, so the A109 is the more economical choice whenever it has the seats you need. Both are priced per flying hour plus positioning and landing fees — see what determines helicopter charter cost and the 2026 prices guide.

Tell us the route, the date and how many are flying and we will recommend the aircraft — and give you a price for each if it is close. Browse both on the fleet page, or request a quote. For longer legs beyond helicopter range, the group also arranges private jet charter; for central-London departures, Battersea Helicopter.

The right aircraft is the one sized to your trip — not the biggest or the fastest. Request a quote and we will match it.