A helicopter lands at the Putuo Rural Complex in Putuo district, Zhoushan. [Photo/Tide News]

A helicopter completed its inaugural flight on April 3 from the Minhang district of East China's Shanghai to the Putuo Rural Complex in Putuo district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, covering a distance of nearly 500 kilometers in just 50 minutes.

This marked the launch of first cross-sea helicopter intercity route in the Yangtze River Delta region – significantly reducing travel time between the two regions by nearly three hours compared with driving.

According to Qi Shuhai, general manager of Heming Low Altitude (Shanghai) Technology Co, the project signifies a major step towards commercializing intercity low-altitude travel in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The new helicopter intercity route brings Shanghai and Zhoushan's Putuo district much closer, with the fastest flight time now just 40 minutes.

On April 3, the first municipal low-altitude agricultural service center in Zhejiang opened in Zhoushan, which will offer diverse services such as crop protection and emergency deliveries.

Putuo is expanding its low-altitude economy, exploring many different applications. It has applied for and been recognized as a pilot zone for developing the low-altitude economy in Zhejiang.

The district has built nine standardized helipads, applied for 17 fixed airspace routes, and launched two inter-island logistics routes. Collaborations with companies like Beijing HEAD Aerospace Technology Co aim to develop a comprehensive low-altitude economic industrial park.