Sky Shuttle
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2016) |
Founded | 1997 | ; joint venture 1998
---|---|
Hubs | Macau Marine Terminal, Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport |
Focus cities | Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen |
Destinations | 3 |
Headquarters | Sheung Wan, Hong Kong and Sé, Macau. |
Website | http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/ |
Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited (Chinese: 空中快線直升機公司, Portuguese: Helicópteros Aéreos Expressos) is a helicopter service operator based in Macau. Formerly known as Helicopters Hong Kong Limited, it operates helicopter routes between Macau, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
History
[edit]East Asia Airlines Limited was established in July 1988 and Macau-Hong Kong services commenced in November 1990 by using two Bell 222 helicopters with six flights per day. Helicopters Hong Kong Limited (‘HeliHK’) established in 1997, formed a partnership with East Asia Airlines, to create the largest commercial helicopter operation in the Pearl River Delta region providing shuttle service between Hong Kong and Macau and introduced a fleet change from Bell 222 to Sikorsky S76C+ helicopters. Subsequently, a new company name “Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited” was launched in November 2008, as part of a new corporate branding exercise. In 2009 another fleet change took place when AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters were purchased to replace the aging S-76C+s.
2010 ditching
The airline's noon departure from Hong Kong for Macau ended in a controlled ditching of one of its AW139s in Victoria Harbour immediately post-takeoff due to a tail rotor failure. The 11 passengers and 2 crew escaped serious injury.[1]
2020 - 2022 - Operations suspended during the period of the global pandemic.
January 26, 2024 - Operations resumed for scheduled flights 5 days per week and 7 flights per day between Macau - Hong Kong and Macau - Shenzhen.
Services
[edit]Shuttle service
[edit]Sky Shuttle is the sole commercial helicopter operator between HK, Macau and Shenzhen, PRC, with Sky Shuttle ( operating 35 flights weekly between Macau Maritime Terminal and Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong from 9am to 8 pm, and 5 flights per week between Macau Maritime Terminal and Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, all of about 15 minutes duration.
Charter services
[edit]Sky Shuttle also operates services for sightseeing, aerial photography and general private charter.
Heliports
[edit]- Sky Shuttle Heliport renamed from Shun Tak Heliport 2nd Helipad added 2009
- Shun Tak Heliport, at the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong - 1 pad built in 1986,
- Macau Heliport at 3/F Macau Maritime Terminal, Avenida da Amizade, Macau - 5 pads upgraded in 2001
- Shenzhen Heliport at 3/F of Shenzhen Baoan International Airport Terminal, Shenzhen, China
Fleet
[edit]As of July 2016, Sky Shuttle operates AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.[2]
Formerly operated
[edit]Also previously operated by Helicopters Hong Kong were
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Aircraft Accident Report 2/2014 - Final Report on AgustaWestland AW139 registration B-MHJ helicopter accident at Hong Kong Victoria Harbour on 3 July 2010". Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong. July 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited".