Turkish Aviation Start-up Company Mavi Air Starts to Serve in Bodrum

Mavi Air, the Turkish aviation start-up company founded by Alex Sahni, is preparing to start helicopter flights in the Bodrum region, which is called the Turkish Riviera.

Within the scope of this project, Airbus Helicopters-manufactured H125 helicopters will serve for short flights within the region for the next three years. The helicopter service, which is planned to start as of May 1, 2022, will be organized within the scope of transportation or sightseeing flights between the airport and the hotel. Mavi Air will offer an on-demand shuttle service to the customers of five-star and award-winning facilities such as Mandarin Oriental in the luxury tourism segment.

Mavi Air starts its operations with one H125 helicopter, two helipads around Göltürkbükü and a double landing helipad in Yalikavak, close to the hotels area. Alex Sahni said, “Due to the high increase in tourism, this helicopter service will provide a real added value to the city while providing a transportation alternative for hotel customers and home owners all over Bodrum. Turkey's St. Bodrum, known as the Tropez, is the perfect starting point for the helicopter shuttle services we have established with the H125 today. “We are keen to evolve our offer as the helicopter industry evolves, and we aim to introduce green technologies such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and electricity as they become available for commercial operations.”

Airbus Helicopters Turkey and Caucasus Regional President Alexandre Sanchez said, “We are delighted that Mavi Air has chosen the H125 to offer this service to its demanding guests. The infrastructure and business model that Mavi Air has created today can pave the way for future Urban Air Mobility operations in Bodrum.”

The flexible and versatile H125 helicopter (previously named AS350 B3e) combines superior performance, versatility, low maintenance and low purchase costs in high, hot and harsh environments. It is a member of Airbus' Ecureuil family, which has accumulated more than 33 million flight hours worldwide, and is capable of carrying one or two pilots along with six passengers. The H125 also broke world records. In 2005 the AS350 B3 performed the world's highest altitude takeoff and landing on Mount Everest at 8.848 meters (29.029 feet). He still retains this title today.