Helisureste, the Spanish company that operates the helicopter service between Malta and Gozo, has acquired a new helicopter worth over €10 million for the route.

The new Bell 412 replaces the aircraft that has been in use since the company started operations from Gozo last March.

The area manager for the Gozo arm of the company, Noel Grech, said the helicopter set off from Spain with zero flying hours on the clock.

Like the other helicopter, it can carry 13 passengers. The company is operating nine scheduled return flights per day.

Mr Grech said passenger figures had risen from 500 to around 1,200 in the first three months of operation.

The helicopter has also been chartered by one of the film crews on the island and it has carried out its first surveillance flight for shipping companies.

Helisureste has also introduced an e-ticketing system to make the booking process easier for customers.

Mr Grech said: "We have clients that need to undertake urgent business and they can do it all in a couple of hours by using the helicopter. It is not a huge market, but it exists."

Further information is available from: hse.malta@ helisureste.com.