| Model | Aircraft | Seats | Range | Cruise speed | Built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus H130 Airbus Helicopters | 27 | up to 7 | 327 nm | 128 kts | 2002 to 2014 |
| Airbus H125 Airbus Helicopters | 6 | up to 6 | 340 nm | 136 kts | 2012 to 2014 |
| Bell 206L LongRanger Bell | 5 | up to 6 | 325 nm | 109 kts | 1980 to 1981 |
| MD 902 Explorer MD Helicopters | 1 | up to 6 | 293 nm | 134 kts | 1994 |
Charter operator · United States
Papillon Airways
Sightseeing operator trading as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, flying helicopter and airplane tours of the Grand Canyon since 1965. Tours leave from Las Vegas, the South and West Rims, Page and Phoenix, mostly on EcoStar (H130) helicopters.
- Registered fleet
- 39 aircraft
- Aircraft
- Helicopters
- Built
- 1980 to 2014
- Founded
- 1965
Fleet
The Papillon Airways fleet
39 aircraft listed on its FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate (PG9A). 4 aircraft types, grouped by size. Open any registration for its details and specifications.
Aircraft types
4 aircraft types
HelicoptersModel photo27 aircraftAirbus H130
Airbus Helicopters · Built 2002 to 2014
HelicoptersModel photo6 aircraftAirbus H125
Airbus Helicopters · Built 2012 to 2014
HelicoptersModel photo5 aircraftBell 206L LongRanger
Bell · Built 1980 to 1981
HelicoptersModel photo1 aircraftMD 902 Explorer
MD Helicopters · Built 1994
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Safety and licences
Licence and safety checks
Active
PG9A
FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate (PG9A).
Legal name: PAPILLON AIRWAYS INC
- ✓LicenceFAA Part 135 certificate PG9A · Active
- –Flies abroad underNo foreign operator authorisation on the EASA or UK lists.
- ✓Safety auditsIS-BAO Stage III (International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations)
An FAA Part 135 certificate is the approval a company needs to fly on-demand charter for hire in the United States. Before issuing it, the FAA reviews the company's manuals, pilots, training, maintenance programme and every aircraft it adds, and its inspectors keep auditing the operation. An aircraft flown privately under Part 91 cannot legally be sold to you as a charter. Altivo Jets books flights only with licensed operators and names the operator on every quote. How we check operators.
Company
About Papillon Airways
Papillon Airways trades as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, which has flown daily tours since 1965 and calls itself the largest and most experienced Grand Canyon helicopter tour company. It is certified to fly over the whole canyon and has three exclusive landing sites on the canyon floor, on Hualapai and Navajo Nation land.
Tours leave from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim, Grand Canyon West, Page in Arizona for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, and Phoenix and Scottsdale. Its Airbus EC130 EcoStar helicopters have oversized windows and 180 degree views, with narration in several languages, and it also flies airplane tours, runs ground, Hummer and off-road tours, and flies private and family flights, weddings, proposals and multi-day charters. Most tours run 364 days a year.
Papillon holds the FAA Diamond Award for maintenance training and won the 2026 Newsweek Readers' Choice award for best helicopter tour.
Services
- ✓Grand Canyon helicopter tours
- ✓Canyon floor landings
- ✓Airplane tours
- ✓Private and multi-day charters
- ✓Weddings and events
Explore
Other operators flying the Airbus H130
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Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
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Helimotion
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Alexair
7 aircraft · Airbus H130
Island Express Helicopters.
6 aircraft · Airbus H130
Enloe FlightCare
2 aircraft · Airbus H130
Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours
2 aircraft · Airbus H130
Booking
How booking works with Altivo Jets
- 1Send your trip
Route, dates, passengers and bags, plus any aircraft type you prefer.
- 2We check availability
We ask licensed operators that can fly the trip, and compare aircraft, timing and price.
- 3Choose your aircraft
Your quote names the operator and the aircraft before you confirm. Nothing is booked until you approve it.
- 4Fly
The operator you choose flies the trip with its own crew and keeps operational control. Altivo Jets stays your contact before, during and after the flight.
Altivo Jets is an independent air charter broker. It does not own or operate aircraft and has no agreement with Papillon Airways. Every flight is operated by a properly licensed air carrier, which keeps operational control of the aircraft and is named on your quote.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow many aircraft does Papillon Airways have?+
39: 27 Airbus H130, 6 Airbus H125, 5 Bell 206L LongRanger and 1 MD 902 Explorer.
Is Papillon Airways licensed to fly charter?+
Yes. Papillon Airways holds an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate (PG9A).
Does Papillon Airways hold safety ratings?+
IS-BAO Stage III.
How many passengers can Papillon Airways fly?+
Up to 7 on its Airbus H130. Across the fleet, cabins seat 7 passengers.
How old is Papillon Airways' fleet?+
The aircraft were built between 1980 and 2014, 21 years old on average.
Is Altivo Jets part of Papillon Airways?+
No. Altivo Jets is an independent charter broker with no ownership or commercial link to Papillon Airways. Papillon Airways operates its own flights and keeps operational control of its aircraft.
Does Altivo Jets work with Papillon Airways?+
No. Altivo Jets has no agreement or partnership with Papillon Airways, and Papillon Airways has not reviewed this page. It is built from public records. Tell us your route and dates and we ask licensed operators that can fly the trip for availability and price. The operator is named on your quote before you confirm.
Sources
Where this comes from
Licence and registrations from the Federal Aviation Administration register. Aircraft details from public aircraft listings. Aircraft photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo; other photos show the model. Safety audits from public industry directories. How we check operators.
Company sources
- Papillon website papillon.com
Work at Papillon Airways?
This profile is unclaimed and built from public records. Claim it to correct details, add your own photos and list your aircraft and empty legs. Free to list; you set the rates.
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Altivo Jets is an independent broker, not affiliated with Papillon Airways.
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