Avincis welcomed national media, government stakeholders to Cascais Airport this week for a demonstration of its aerial firefighting capabilities, reinforcing the critical role that specialised aircraft and year-round preparedness play in protecting communities across Portugal and globally. Guests had the chance to experience first-hand the capabilities of the CL215 amphibious aircraft, one of the most effective aerial firefighting platforms available for tackling large-scale wildfires.

As Europe faces increasingly severe and prolonged wildfire seasons, the demonstration highlighted the importance of maintaining sufficient aerial firefighting capacity to respond rapidly and effectively when fires occur. With the ability to scoop thousands of litres of water directly from lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters before returning immediately to the fire line, the Canadair aircraft remains one of the most efficient and proven tools in the fight against wildfires.

The event follows the launch of Avincis’ flagship report, Up in Flames: The challenges of fighting wildfires from the air in a hotter Europe, which explores how climate change is increasing wildfire risk across the continent. The report reinforces a key message: preparedness can no longer be seasonal. As wildfire risk evolves, year-round planning, training and investment in aerial firefighting capability have become essential to ensuring resilience and protecting communities.

For Avincis, this commitment is underpinned by decades of operational experience. The company has provided aerial firefighting services in Portugal for around 20 years and operates the world’s largest fleet of 18 CL415 Canadair aircraft on behalf of Italy’s Vigili del Fuoco. Across Europe, Avincis crews support some of the continent’s most demanding firefighting missions, bringing extensive operational expertise to every deployment.

Alongside the aerial demonstration, the day marked another important milestone for the business with the announcement that Avincis will acquire an additional 30 aircraft to support its long-term growth strategy. The investment reflects continued confidence in the emergency aerial services market and reinforces Avincis’ position as one of the world’s leading providers of emergency aviation services. It also demonstrates the success of the company’s growth strategy, supporting both existing customer requirements and expansion into new markets and service areas.

The announcement is particularly significant for Portugal, where Avincis established its global headquarters in Lisbon in 2023. The decision reflected the company’s confidence in the country’s aviation expertise, engineering capability and strategic importance within its international operations. Today, Avincis employs around 60 people in Portugal and continues to invest in local talent, infrastructure and future growth opportunities.

Together, the aircraft demonstration and fleet expansion announcement showcased a business that is not only helping protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires, but also investing in the future of emergency aerial services.