Europe’s largest emergency aerial service operator Avincis has signed a new lease, bringing in extra Super Scoopers to combat wildfires in Portugal.
On July 23, 2026, Avincis said US aerial firefighting firm Bridger Aerospace will provide two Canadair CL-215T aircraft, or Super Scoopers, as part of the lease contract signed between the two.
The two aircraft are both capable of scooping up 5,436 liters of water in 12 seconds from a water source and will be deployed to support ongoing responses to emerging wildfire threats in Portugal.
On July 22, 2026, The Portugal News reported that around 50 municipalities are at maximum risk of wildfires according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere.
The agreement marks Bridger’s first revenue-generating operations in Europe, with the aircraft currently under contract through mid-October, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreements.
Avincis will operate the aircraft, in what it describes as the “most demanding starts to a wildfire season in recent years”.
“Europe is facing a new reality where wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and increasingly unpredictable,” John Boag, Group CEO of Avincis, said. “The current season has only just begun, yet we are already seeing exceptionally high levels of operational activity across Southern Europe.”
In a statement, Avincis said that its operational requirements reflect the “growing need to strengthen Europe’s long-term aerial firefighting capability”.
“Wildfires do not recognize borders, and neither should the capabilities needed to fight them,” Sam Davis, President and CEO of Bridger Aerospace, said. “This deployment marks an important milestone for Bridger as our first revenue-generating activity in Europe and demonstrates the versatility of our fleet and business model.”
According to Davis, the company remains the same whether “fires are burning in the forests of Montana or the hillsides of Portugal”.
“[…] get our Scoopers to the fire as fast as possible and give the people on the ground every advantage,” Davis added. “We are proud to join our strategic partners at Avincis as we answer the call in Europe together. “
Avincis operates from more than 190 bases across Chile, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Mozambique, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, with its headquarters based in Lisbon, Portugal. Its fleet includes around 210 aircraft (170 helicopters, 40 planes).