Helicopter transport for government ministers and senior Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials is managed under a Cabinet Office framework contract with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM), according to responses from Defence Minister Maria Eagle.
In response to Charlie Dewhirst MP (Conservative – Bridlington and The Wolds), Eagle confirmed that the Ministerial Transport Office is managed by the Cabinet Office Commercial Team, with one dedicated full-time official and additional resources used as required.
The travel booking service is provided by CTM, which arranges flights for ministers and senior MoD officials when permitted for business and operational reasons.
Eagle clarified that the costs for helicopter transport are paid from individual departmental budgets rather than a centralised fund, and the contract with CTM is part of the wider Central Departmental Travel contracts. The full details of this contract can be accessed via the UK Government’s Contracts Finder portal:
🔗 Contract Details.
When asked whether the cost assessment for MoD helicopter transport included expenses related to the Royal Household or non-Defence Ministerial travel, Eagle confirmed that these were not included in the MoD’s calculations. She stated:
“Provision of Royal Household and non-Defence Ministerial helicopter travel is not a Ministry of Defence responsibility.”
Prior to the deletion of Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport in December 2024, helicopter use for the Royal Household and other government departments had been on an ‘as available’ basis, meaning that MoD aircraft could only be used when not required for Defence operations.
This update clarifies the separation of MoD helicopter travel from broader government and Royal Household transport requirements, highlighting the role of the Cabinet Office in overseeing ministerial air transport under a private sector framework.
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What’s missing from this is a VfM evaluation where, staff could book accommodation through Booking.com and take advantage of advance fares but this management company charge through nose on day bookings – one colleague said he could have saved 2/3rds of the cost of this management agency.
Of course there is accountability but, Govt are being screwed by this contract and it needs to be re-negotiated to that this ‘company’ are achieving savings on advance fares and therefore paid a % on that saving, just paying through the nose for up-front on the day charges, just shows a lack of CS procurement skills.