The new AgustaWestland AW139s will replace the current 15-year-old Sikorsky helicopters. At a previous financial briefing in 2022, a source described the eco-conscious King, then-Prince of Wales, as “pretty allergic” to travelling by helicopter and said he would always “raise an eyebrow” and object when the mode of transport was suggested. But the Sovereign Grant financial report published on Wednesday revealed the aircraft will arrive in 2024-25, with the plan approved by the Treasury.
A palace official suggested it made better financial sense to “sweat the asset” and make maximum use of the new helicopters. “Helicopters are a very important tool in our travel resources,” the official said. “They provide great flexibility.
They enable His Majesty and members of the royal family to be to be seen throughout the length and breadth of the UK.” Asked whether helicopter use should be reduced, the official added: “If you’re going to make an investment of that magnitude, then you need to sweat the asset. “So, therefore, you need to maximise the utilisation of the aircraft otherwise you end up in a situation whereby a small number of visits, compared to the cost of running those assets, it does not does not make good financial sense.
” Almost £1.1 million was spent on 170 helicopter journeys made by members of the royal family in 2023-24 made up of trips costing less than £17,000 each. The palace official said that given the potential environmental impact.