China’s low-altitude economy soars as Shenzhen adds heli-transfer at railway station

As Beijing bets on growth of the so-called low-altitude economy, Shenzhen has launched a helicopter service from its high-speed railway station, representing a first for China.

The launch of the service from Shenzhen North rail station is part of the city’s goal to build a low-altitude transport network connecting 90 per cent of the Greater Bay Area within an hour, the Shenzhen government said on its WeChat social media account on Friday.

The Greater Bay Area refers to the Chinese government’s scheme to link the cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing into an integrated economic and business hub.

In Shenzhen, a purpose-built 314 square-metre (3,380 sq ft) helipad outside the station offers travellers the opportunity to connect quickly within the southern tech hub.

The service is operated by Heli-Eastern, a Shenzhen-based pilot enterprise approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China that is focused on serving the low-altitude airspace, which covers the area up to 1,000 metres (3,281 feet) above ground.

Under the new service, a ride in an Airbus H135 from Shenzhen North to Guangming Science City in Guangming district would take eight minutes and cost 9,800 yuan (US$1,348) for up to six passengers, according to the operator.