Two helicopters take off from the Hongjing launch point in the Hongqiao International Central Business District for a low-altitude commuting test. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
On March 18, two helicopters, each carrying three passengers, successfully completed low-altitude test flights linking Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District (CBD) with other districts and cities in the Yangtze River Delta region.
One helicopter traveled south through Songjiang and Jinshan districts to Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, while the other headed north through Jiading district to Kunshan and Taicang in Jiangsu province.
A total of six routes were test-flown: Hongqiao-Songjiang, Hongqiao-Jinshan, Hongqiao-Pinghu in Jiaxing, Hongqiao-Jiading, Hongqiao-Taicang in Suzhou, and Hongqiao-Kunshan in Suzhou.
The routes are expected to significantly reduce travel times between these areas. For example, the journey from Hongqiao to Taicang Port took just 20 minutes, 87 percent faster than driving.
This initiative marks the first time that direct low-altitude commuting between the business district and major cities in the region has been offered, creating an "aerial corridor" that connects key areas of the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub. The successful inter-provincial flights pave the way for regular operations, which will make traveling in the Yangtze River Delta much more convenient.
Future plans include expanding routes to connect Hongqiao with more locations, such as Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Haining in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, and Wuhu and Hefei in Anhui province.
