NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
If talks are successful, scheduled services could be launched within months to meet business travellers' needs
Hong Kong government authorities are seeking to expand air service arrangements with mainland China to allow for the launch of scheduled helicopter services to points in the country's south.
Senior government officials say there is a clear need to enhance transport links within the prosperous Pearl River Delta region, and helicopter operators in Hong Kong have expressed interest in launching scheduled cross-border flights.
Helicopters Hong Kong and its sister company East Asia Airlines, which operates scheduled helicopter services between Hong Kong and Macau, recently agreed with Chinese officials to work towards the launch of regular flights. It is hoped scheduled services to Shenzhen can be launched from Hong Kong and Macau in the coming months, primarily to cater to business travellers.
Present air services arrangements between Hong Kong and China do not cover helicopter flights, although the two sides have "started initial discussions" to include their provision, the Hong Kong government says.
The two sides plan to work on specific helicopter flight routes and support services, such as immigration, customs and quarantine arrangements, at airports in the southern province of Guangdong.
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department is meanwhile carrying out a consultancy study to assess the short- and long-term demand for different types of helicopter services, and the feasibility and potential locations for developing new heliport facilities.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The push comes as the Hong Kong Airport Authority is promoting helicopter services to and from Hong Kong International Airport. Helicopter landing and parking charges were reduced by up to 80% from September 2000.
Source: Flight International
