NAC Acquires Stake in SkyConnect Leasing

South African aviation services company National Airways Corporation (NAC) has acquired a stake in SkyConnect Leasing, marking a significant expansion of its international helicopter leasing interests.

The investment was confirmed by NAC CEO JP Fourie during an interview at the company's headquarters at Lanseria International Airport. According to NAC, SkyConnect Leasing is an Irish-registered helicopter leasing firm operating from Prague, Czechia, and is deploying a fleet of eight Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk variants across Southern and Central Europe for the 2026 wildfire season.

SkyConnect Leasing was formally established earlier this year as the operational leasing arm of Skyrise Aviation Group. The company focuses on providing mission-ready helicopters through flexible leasing arrangements, initially targeting the rapidly growing aerial firefighting market in Europe.

The company's Black Hawk fleet has already been allocated to operators supporting wildfire response programmes across Europe, with multi-year deployment agreements reportedly in place. The helicopters are intended to address increasing demand for heavy-lift firefighting aircraft as European wildfire seasons become longer and more severe.

For NAC, the investment represents a strategic move beyond its traditional fixed-wing leasing, charter, maintenance and aviation services businesses. The acquisition provides exposure to the specialist helicopter leasing sector, particularly in the mission-critical aerial firefighting market, which has experienced significant growth in recent years.

SkyConnect describes itself as a new-generation helicopter lessor, combining aviation financing, aircraft acquisition and operational support solutions. While aerial firefighting is currently its primary focus, the company has indicated plans to expand into other mission-critical helicopter operations in the future.

The transaction further strengthens NAC's international footprint and highlights the growing role of specialist leasing companies in supporting government agencies and commercial operators requiring rapid access to capable helicopter fleets.