Malta-based Gulf Med Aviation Services has won a five year air ambulance contract in Portugal. The operator will supply four Airbus H145 D3 helicopters to INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) to provide 24/7 national coverage from four bases. The contract started 1 July, reportedly lasts to 31 December 2030, and is valued at €77.475 million.

During the build-up period with Gulf Med as the new operator, backup coverage will be provided by the Portuguese Air Force with four Leonardo AW119s to ensure the geographical coverage the country has become accustomed to, although on the basis of only 12 hours per day.

Gulf Med will also start on only 12 hours per day, and initially with two of the four bases covered by an H135 and an H145. This will evolve gradually to four H145s and 24/7 by the end of September

Two of the H145s have been leased from Milestone Aviation and were previously flown by NHV on a flying training contract with the German military.

The contract was previously flown by Avincis using two Leonardo A109S Grand and two AW139s. These aircraft were all ferried to the Avincis MRO base in Loures, Lisbon on 1st July.

Gulf Med Aviation Services is owned by healthcare provider Medilink International. In November 2023 Gulf Med announced that Medilink had acquired all remaining shares from the minority shareholder Gulf Helicopters.