Transforming Connectivity in the Greater Bay Area

A Memorable Experience

I recall a time when a colleague had to serve customers in the Macau region under urgent circumstances. There was a pressing need to submit a tender reply, and my colleague had to take a helicopter to deliver the document. This was several years ago, with the destination being from Hong Kong to Macau.

A New Era of Connectivity

Now, things are set to change dramatically. A new level of convenience will soon enhance connectivity across the border region, including Hong Kong and other parts of the Greater Bay Area, such as Guangzhou. According to Yahoo Finance and the Guangzhou Internet Information Center, the under-construction vertical takeoff and landing hub at the Pazhou Port-Macao Passenger Terminal will feature a vertical takeoff and landing area, a low-altitude flight operation platform, and supporting infrastructure for aircraft, including helicopters. It is anticipated that routes connecting Pazhou Passenger Port to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, and Macau International Airport will open as early as mid-2025.

Transforming Travel Times

Once the project is completed, travel from Pazhou to Baiyun Airport is expected to take just 9 minutes, while the trip to Hong Kong International Airport will take 26 minutes—significantly reducing current travel times. Ticket prices are estimated to range from 450 to 620 RMB. In addition to airport routes, there are plans to include destinations in other Greater Bay Area cities, with an expected daily flight frequency of 100 to 150 flights.

Economic Growth and Opportunities

Shenzhen has a GDP of USD 513 billion, Guangzhou around USD 1.9 trillion, and Hong Kong approximately USD 392 billion, according to the Global Times and the Hong Kong government. This low-altitude economy will enable more extensive transportation among these three GBA cities. Individually, businesspeople will benefit from greater exposure to a multitude of business opportunities.