THE first cross-border helicopter flight was conducted Friday between Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

An Airbus H135 light twin-engine helicopter took off from Shenzhen International Airport and landed at Hong Kong Xinde Heliport on Friday morning in an approximately 15-minute cross-border flight.

The helicopter is operated by Shenzhen Eastern General Aviation Co. (Shenzhen Eastern GAC).

“We are committed to playing a leading role in low-altitude air transportation in the Greater Bay Area,” said Zhao Qi, chairman of Shenzhen Eastern GAC.

He disclosed that the company had targeted building up a three-dimensional transportation system around the area with a helicopter platform centered in Shenzhen within five years.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border helicopter flight will greatly upgrade travel efficiency in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Shenzhen Eastern GAC is the first certified general aviation company in China to operate helicopter flights between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The initial stage of the service will feature chartered flights, while regular heli-flights are under planning.

(Xinhua)