Monaco-based helicopter operator Monacair will offer scheduled flights between Nice Airport and Monaco’s heliport beginning January 1. The company, which won a 10-year tender against incumbent operator Heli Air Monaco earlier this year, will strive to return traffic to its 2007-2008 level. It has ordered six Airbus Helicopters H130s.

Annual passenger traffic for the Monegasque operator (the other operator on the route is a French one, according to a bilateral agreement) has dwindled to between 50,000 and 60,000 from about 100,000, according to Monacair CEO Gilbert Schweitzer. He is preparing “innovations,” such as optional services, to drive the number up again. Schweitzer expects the Nice-Monaco service to boost Monacair’s revenue by 35 percent. Monacair will also endeavor to drive down the connection time at Nice Airport. The goal is for passengers to be at its boarding gate in Nice 20 minutes after arrival at the Monaco heliport. Flight time is seven minutes. Security checks will take place in the helicopter area in Nice.

Airfare for a one-way flight will be €160 (approximately $180) or €280 ($310) for the round trip. Monacair plans to streamline the booking process. Tickets and an electronic boarding pass will be available through Internet booking.

Schweitzer suggested that the planned order for six new helicopters was a factor in Monacair’s successful bid on the route: “These aircraft are quiet and air-conditioned.” The purchase is valued at €17 million ($19 million) and deliveries will run from next month to May. The H130 can accommodate six passengers, in addition to the pilot.

Flights will run on a schedule of “practically one flight every 30 minutes,” Schweitzer said. Monacair might operate 80 to 100 flights per day in summer. Sometimes, heavy rain or strong easterly wind causes flights to be cancelled but “this is very rare,” Schweitzer added. Night flights (around 10 percent of the total) will be performed with twin-engine helicopters–an EC145 and an AgustaWestland A109SP–to comply with limitations on single-engine operations. The H130s may be used for other operations such as flights to sea or ski resorts.

Specializing in private helicopter management, Monacair so far has managed a fleet of 20 helicopters composed of mostly Airbus and AgustaWestland light singles and twins, including Airbus’s Dauphin. In the middle of next year Monacair will receive an H175 and an AW169, both to be offered for private flights.