8 seater helicopter
Every helicopter on the UK charter list that carries 7 or 8 passengers, what it costs per hour to charter, and what it costs to buy.
- Models
- 8
- Aircraft on charter
- 35
- Operators
- 16
- Per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
What counts as an 8 seater helicopter
The Leonardo AW139, Airbus H145, Leonardo AW169 and Bell 206L LongRanger are the 8-seat helicopters you will most often be offered in the UK. A helicopter like these costs about £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour to charter, and from about $6 million to buy.
Operators count passenger seats, with the pilot extra. In everyday use a "8 seater" often includes the pilot, so this page lists helicopters that carry 7 or 8 passengers.
8 models on the UK CAA charter list seat 7 or 8 passengers; together they make up 35 aircraft.
Seats are not the only limit. On hot days and at high elevations operators may fly fewer people than the seats fitted, because the helicopter can lift less. Expect to give passenger and bag weights when you book.
Charter is priced for the whole aircraft by the flight hour: about £1,200 to £3,500 for a helicopter in the UK. Tell us the route and we confirm an aircraft and price from CAA-certified operators.
Every 8 seater helicopter on charter in the UK
Seats are typical passenger seating for each model; "up to" figures are the published maximum. Counts are aircraft flown by operators on the UK CAA Air Operator Certificate list (5 October 2026), from each operator's published fleet.
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 8 to 15
- On charter in the UK
- 8
- Operators
- 5
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 7 to 9
- On charter in the UK
- 5
- Operators
- 3
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 6 to 10
- On charter in the UK
- 5
- Operators
- 4
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 5 to 7
- On charter in the UK
- 4
- Operators
- 2
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 5 to 12
- On charter in the UK
- 4
- Operators
- 3
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 5 to 13
- On charter in the UK
- 3
- Operators
- 1
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 6 to 7
- On charter in the UK
- 3
- Operators
- 2
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
- Type
- Helicopter
- Passenger seats
- 7
- On charter in the UK
- 3
- Operators
- 1
- Charter per hour
- £1,200 to £3,500
Charter per hour is our typical range for the aircraft type, before Air Passenger Duty and any VAT, positioning and airport charges.
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
8 seater helicopter price
What it costs to buy the models above. Robinson figures are the maker's list prices; the others are dealer listings and published pre-owned averages.
To charter, you pay by the flight hour, not for the seats: about £1,200 to £3,500 per hour for a helicopter like these in the UK, before Air Passenger Duty and any VAT, positioning and airport charges. An empty seat costs the same as a full one, so price the trip for the whole aircraft.
See our private jet price guide for charter costs by route and aircraft size.
| Model | Price (USD) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Leonardo AW139 | $7 million | Average pre-owned |
| Airbus H145 | $6 million | Average pre-owned |
Prices are in US dollars, the currency aircraft trade in, and exclude VAT, import charges, delivery and completion. Pre-owned values vary with age, hours and maintenance programmes.
Sources:Aircraft Cost Calculator: Leonardo AW139Aircraft Cost Calculator: Airbus H145
8 seater helicopters on charter in the UK
Photos, operators and fleet counts for each model.
Helicopter operators in the UK
Licensed operators with the largest helicopter fleets. 33 operators fly helicopters in the UK.
12 helicopters: Bell 206 JetRanger, Robinson R44, Bell 206L LongRanger
10 helicopters: Leonardo AW109, Leonardo AW119 Koala, Airbus H125
8 helicopters: Bell 206L LongRanger, Airbus H125, Bell 206 JetRanger
8 helicopters: Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel, Airbus H125, Airbus H130
6 helicopters: Leonardo AW109
6 helicopters: Robinson R44, Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel, Bell 206 JetRanger
5 helicopters: Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel, Leonardo AW109
5 helicopters: Airbus H145, Airbus H135
5 helicopters: Airbus H130, Robinson R44, Airbus H125
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhich helicopters seat 8 people?+
The Leonardo AW139, Airbus H145, Leonardo AW169 and Bell 206L LongRanger are the most common. In all, 8 models on charter in the UK carry 7 or 8 passengers.
How much does an 8 seater helicopter cost to charter in the UK?+
About £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour, before Air Passenger Duty and any VAT, positioning and airport charges. Tell us the route and date for an all-in price.
What is the price of an 8 seater helicopter?+
From about $6 million to $7 million on published list prices and pre-owned averages.
How many 8 seater helicopters are there in the UK?+
35 aircraft across 8 models are on the UK CAA charter list, flown by 16 operators.
Does an 8 seater helicopter include the pilot?+
It depends who is counting. Operators quote passenger seats, with the pilot extra; in everyday use "8 seater" often includes the pilot. This page lists helicopters that carry 7 or 8 passengers.
Related pages
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 14 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
Tell us where you are going.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.