Helicopters
Airbus H130
A light single-engine helicopter for up to seven passengers, with a wide, flat-floor cabin, a panoramic view from every seat and three baggage holds.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
At a glance
Airbus H130 specifications
Figures are representative of the type; individual aircraft vary with configuration, load and conditions.
Where it fits
The single-engine helicopter built around its cabin
The Airbus H130 is the current EC130 T2, powered by one Safran Arriel 2D turbine. Airbus describes its cabin as the widest in its class, with a panoramic view for every passenger, and markets it with one pilot and seven passengers.
The cabin floor is fully flat, the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor is safer for passengers and ground staff near the aircraft, and Airbus puts its noise signature 6 dB below ICAO limits. The H130 also adds active vibration control and improved air conditioning.
The family started with the EC130 B4, certified in December 2000, and the T2 followed with EASA certification in 2012. Airbus has delivered more than 900 H130 family helicopters, and the type is still listed today.
Flights in cloud, or long open-water sectors where a second engine matters. The H130 has one engine and flies VFR only (day, and night with the required equipment). For a twin certified for single-pilot IFR, the H135 is the better tool, with one fewer passenger seat.
Missions
What the desk books it for
Families and groups to the islands
Up to seven passengers from Athens or Mykonos to the Cyclades in one aircraft rather than two smaller ones, with bags split across three holds.
Athens to Crete and Corfu
Athens to Heraklion is 167 NM and Athens to Corfu 214 NM, both inside the 327 NM published range. That figure does not state a reserve, so the desk plans fuel and weather before it quotes.
Short hops across the Aegean
Mykonos to Porto Cheli at 105 NM and Mykonos to Bodrum at 111 NM, with the cross-border paperwork for Turkey filed alongside the trip.
Sightseeing with a view from every seat
The wide cabin and panoramic glazing suit daylight scenic flights over the islands, the Riviera coast or the landscapes of Kenya, flown in good weather.
Where it flies
Routes the desk flies on the H130
Sectors from our Athens and Mykonos route guides that sit inside the H130's published range. Each opens to the airports at both ends and what to know before you fly; the desk confirms the fuel plan and landing sites for the specific aircraft.
Cabin and baggage
A wide cabin, a flat floor and three holds
The cabin volume is 130.7 cubic feet excluding the pilot area, on a fully flat floor. Airbus quotes one pilot with seven passengers, or five to six seats in VIP layouts; the European type certificate lists six passengers as standard, or seven with a modification.
Luggage goes in three holds. The EC130 B4 technical data gives a combined 38.67 cubic feet, and the type certificate for the current T2 sets limits of 155 kg in the left hold, 130 kg in the right and 80 kg at the rear.
With seven aboard, bags are usually the limit before seats are. Tell the desk the count and rough weights when you enquire, so the load is planned before the aircraft is offered.
Performance and airports
Speed, weather and landing sites
Airbus gives a fast cruise of 128 knots at the maximum takeoff weight of 2,500 kg, a published range of 327 NM at that speed on the standard tank, and 4 hours of endurance. The never-exceed speed is 155 knots at sea level, reducing with altitude.
On Greek island and Riviera transfers the sectors are short, so range is rarely the limit. Weather is: the H130 is certified for day VFR, and night VFR with the required equipment, so low cloud or poor visibility can hold a departure.
Villa lawns, hotel pads and private sites each need approval before a helicopter can land there. The desk checks the landing site, the pilot's approvals and the forecast for the specific H130 before a quote goes out.
Compare the class
H130 against the other helicopters
How the H130 lines up against the other helicopters we cover. The AS350 and H135 cruise faster, most of the others publish a longer range, and the H135, AS355 and A109C add a second engine; the H130's case is seven seats, the widest cabin in its class and the largest holds in our set.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Engines | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo A109C | Up to 7 | n/a | n/a | Twin turbine | 150 kg |
| Airbus H130This aircraft | Up to 7 | 327 NM | 128 kts | Single turbine | 39 cu ft |
| Bell 407 | Up to 6 | 337 NM | 133 kts | Single turbine | 16 cu ft |
| Airbus AS350 Ecureuil | Up to 5 | 340 NM | 136 kts | Single turbine | 35 cu ft |
| Airbus H135 | Up to 6 | 342 NM | 136 kts | Twin turbine | None |
| Robinson R44 | Up to 3 | 350 NM | 109 kts | Single piston | Under-seat only |
| Robinson R66 | Up to 4 | 350 NM | 110 kts | Single turbine | 18 cu ft |
| Airbus H120 | Up to 4 | 383 NM | 120 kts | Single turbine | 28 cu ft |
| Airbus AS355 Ecureuil 2 | Up to 5 | 395 NM | 120 kts | Twin turbine | 33 cu ft |
Chartering with Icarus Jet
How we charter the H130
We source H130s from operators vetted and approved for passenger transport, and the operator's name is on the quote. The desk checks the pilot's approvals, the landing sites at both ends and the weather minima for the flight before it checks availability, so the aircraft offered is one that genuinely fits the trip.
Quotes are all-in and itemised: aircraft and pilot, positioning, landing and handling, fuel and taxes, with nothing added after the flight that was not on the page. The number depends on where the nearest suitable helicopter is based, the dates and the landing sites, which is why we price your actual trip rather than publish a rate.
Questions
H130 questions the desk gets
How far can an H130 fly?
Airbus publishes 327 NM at fast cruise on the standard fuel tank, with no reserve stated, and 4 hours of endurance. Real flights keep a reserve, so the usable figure is lower. It still covers sectors such as Athens to Heraklion at 167 NM.
How many passengers does an H130 carry?
Airbus markets it with one pilot and seven passengers, or five to six in VIP layouts. The European type certificate lists six as standard and seven with a modification, so the desk confirms the seat count for the specific aircraft.
What is the seating like?
The seats sit in a wide cabin of 130.7 cubic feet on a fully flat floor, and Airbus designed it so every passenger has a panoramic view. Active vibration control and improved air conditioning make it more comfortable on longer transfers.
How much luggage fits in an H130?
The EC130 B4 data gives three holds totalling 38.67 cubic feet, with limits of 155 kg, 130 kg and 80 kg on the current T2. With a full cabin, tell the desk the bag count early so weight and space are planned together.
Is the H130 single or twin engine?
Single. It flies on one Safran Arriel 2D turbine. For longer open-water sectors or when a second engine matters to you, the desk will quote a twin such as the H135 alongside it.
Can an H130 fly at night or in cloud?
It is certified for day VFR, and night VFR with the required equipment. It is not certified for IFR, so it does not fly in cloud, and a low cloud base can delay a departure.
What is the difference between the EC130 and the H130?
The EC130 B4 was the first version, with an Arriel 2B1 engine and a 2,427 kg maximum weight. The EC130 T2 replaced it with the Arriel 2D and 2,500 kg, and that is the model Airbus sells as the H130.
Related
Around the H130
Get your number
Charter the H130
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk checks range and baggage against the trip, then comes back with the aircraft that genuinely fit and an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.