Capital Air Ambulance poised for European expansion

Exeter-based Capital Air Ambulance (Capital), the aeromedical brand of Rigby Group’s aviation division and the UK’s No 1 provider of fixed wing air ambulance services, has unveiled an ambitious strategy for expansion across the European market.

Capital has in recent months taken advantage of marketplace changes to establish itself as Britain’s largest Air Ambulance operator and is operating from a second UK base in the Midlands, with an enlarged fleet and crew offering an expanded range of services including long haul medical repatriation flights across Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Sir Peter Rigby, Founder and Chairman of Rigby Group, which also owns Exeter Airport, said: “Capital Air Ambulance has grown rapidly since joining the Group just two years ago, and is now poised to begin competing on a level platform with some of our largest European competitors.

“We have invested in both new aircraft and highly trained crews, and have opened a second UK base at Coventry Airport to extend our services across a much wider geographic area. We are now extremely well positioned to make a significant impact upon the European aeromedical sector over the coming months and years.”

Capital provides rapid response medical assistance services and repatriation flights 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, employing a highly experienced, multilingual team to deliver medical support and translation services on scheduled commercial and charter flights or via road transport.

With a 25 year track record in repatriating British citizens when they have been injured or fallen ill in a foreign country, it is the only EURAMI (European Aeromedical Institute) accredited UK medical assistance company to operate its own fleet of air ambulances.

The company also provides bed-to-bed transfers for the full spectrum of patients with acute and chronic medical conditions, using its dedicated fleet and commercial airliners.

Capital’s services include specialist adult, neonatal and paediatric equipment and the company flies with critical care capability on board should the patient require these services from the outset, or in the event that their medical condition deteriorates during the journey.

Since 2014 Capital has been part of the Rigby Group Plc aviation division, a trusted flying partner to the Military and an experienced international Search & Rescue service provider. In the intervening period it has invested in a custom fitted Lear jet to enable long haul repatriations and has expanded to support a full and part time staff of over 70 trained professionals.

The aircraft fleet consists of ten fixed wing aircraft and two aeromedical helicopters.

Paul Southall, who heads up Rigby’s Aviation division, commented: “In just two years since Capital joined Rigby Group, the company has exceeded all expectations, growing from strength to strength in an extremely competitive and challenging market. “Today, with months of investment and operational enhancements firmly in place, we see a huge window of opportunity for a British owned aeromedical operator to seriously challenge its established European competitors and intend to make significant strides in this area over the coming months.”