THE Shekou Cruise Homeport officially launched a cross?border helicopter service Tuesday, becoming China’s first “sea?plus?air” multimodal port. The new heli?deck — painted a vivid green with bright yellow rings and the standard white “H” — will link Shenzhen with Hong Kong and Macao in minutes. Officials say the flights will cut the fastest travel time between Shenzhen and both Hong Kong and Macao to about 10 minutes, boosting high?end business and sightseeing travel in Qianhai and Shenzhen while accelerating low?altitude cooperation across the Guangdong?Hong Kong?Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Planned routes include those to destinations such as Shun Tak Heliport in Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, the Macao International Airport, and the Taipa passenger terminal in Macao, catering to premium business travelers and emergency medical teams. The service was approved by the State Council in January 2024. A spokesperson for Shenzhen’s entry and exit authorities said the helicopter link will help build the GBA’s “one?hour living circle,” strengthen Shekou’s role as a regional transport hub, and open new scenarios such as emergency rescue and time?sensitive business logistics. As the only modern international cruise homeport in South China, the Shekou port integrates sea, land, air, and rail connections and serves as a maritime gateway linking Shenzhen with Hong Kong, Macao, and the wider world. Since opening in 2016, the port has operated six regular high?speed ferry routes to Hong Kong International Airport, Central (Hong Kong), Macao Outer Harbor, Taipa, Zhuhai, and Wailingding Island, plus flexible island services. Ferries from Shekou reach Hong Kong, Macao, and Zhuhai in about an hour and Hong Kong International Airport in roughly 30 minutes. The homeport now operates over 140 departures a day. (SD News) | 