China has recently launched a trial run for a new low-altitude air route that will connect Kunshan City in Jiangsu Province to Shanghai, demonstrating the country’s commitment to developing its low-altitude economy. The new route, operated by Shanghai New Sky Helicopter Co., Ltd., aims to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities from 1.5 to 2 hours by road to just 30 minutes by air.
During a test flight on August 10, a commercial helicopter successfully took off from Kunshan’s city terminal and landed at Shanghai’s Pudong flight base in a little over 30 minutes. The helicopter flew at an altitude of 285 meters and reached a top speed of nearly 200 kilometers per hour, showcasing the efficiency of this new mode of transportation.
Scheduled to officially launch on August 18, ticket prices for the service will range from 1,600 to 1,800 yuan (approximately $224 to $252) per trip. It is expected that the new route will attract between 20,000 to 30,000 passengers annually, bringing in over 10 million yuan in economic benefits.
In addition to passenger services, Kunshan’s city terminal will become the first in China to offer inter-provincial “air-to-air” transfer services. These services will not only connect passengers to flights at Shanghai Pudong International Airport but also extend to low-altitude tourism routes to popular destinations such as Shanghai Disneyland, Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province, and Huangshan City in Anhui Province. Additionally, emergency medical air transport services to major hospitals in Shanghai will be available.
The low-altitude economy in China, which encompasses industries like aircraft research and development, flight activity infrastructure, and related services, has been experiencing rapid growth. Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) shows that the scale of China’s low-altitude economy exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030.
The inauguration of this new air route signifies a significant advancement in the development of low-altitude air travel in the Yangtze River Delta region. As China continues to focus on enhancing its low-altitude economy, it is anticipated that more routes will be established to improve regional connectivity and create new opportunities for economic development.