Bristow has lost its contract with Apache North Sea to rival helicopter operator CHC.
Apache confirmed that it had entered into an agreement with CHC to take up helicopter operations to the Forties and Beryl fields later this year.
Bristow has operated the contract since 2017, kicking-off the five-year term in September of that year, wrestling it from the then operator, CHC.
At the time, it was reported that work with Apache represented about 20% of CHC’s business.
Bristow, which has been flying out of Aberdeen since 1965, said in 2017 that this was its first contract with Apache in the UK.
CHC and Bristow have been asked to comment on the Apache contract.
An Apache spokesman said: “Apache has entered into agreement with CHC Helicopters for offshore aviation services.
“We are confident in their ability to provide safe and efficient service for Apache’s North Sea operations.”
The Helihub.com website reported that Apache exercised an early termination clause in order to switch operators.
Announcing the award in 2017, Bristow said it would be operating 20-plus flights per week for Apache to the Beryl and Forties fields, using S-92 and AW189 helicopters.
Forties and Beryl respectively lie around 110miles and 180miles north-east of Aberdeen.
The coup comes as CHC announced earlier this week that it had conditionally agreed to acquire fellow North Sea helicopter operator Babcock.
The move would cut the number of helicopter firms in Aberdeen from four down to three, potentially easing the fierce competition in the market.
Babcock’s oil and gas business employs more than 500 people across the UK, Denmark and Australia.
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