HAIKOU, November 30. /TASS/.  The southern Chinese province of Hainan plans to create a low-altitude air transportation and service industry worth about 30 billion yuan ($4.24 billion) by 2026, China News Service reported.

According to the agency, the region plans to create a network of 9 airports and more than 300 air routes using helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The authorities will support both the development of such transportation services between major cities in the region, such as Haikou and Sanya, and the opening of regular flights to other provinces. The first passenger flight between Haina's resoirt city of Sanya and the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province took place on September 29. Sikorsky S-76 helicopters capable of carrying 12 passengers were used for the flight. Initially, the helicopters will be limited to charter flights.

Hainan Province also plans to develop drone cargo delivery. April 2024 saw the first such cargo flight take place with an unmanned FP-98 biplane delivering 455 kg of live shrimp from Haikou to Zhuhai. The flight saved about 10 hours compared to ground delivery.

Currently, there are about 200 companies in Hainan Province operating in this industry.

On June 1, 2020, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council of China published a program for the establishment of a free trade port in Hainan. The document provides for the development of a special customs zone on this tropical island. The PRC authorities plan to complete the construction of a free port on the territory of the province in 2025, when the system of free trade and investment will be established on the island. By 2035, Hainan plans to ensure freedom of trade and investment, cross-border movement of capital, travel and transportation of goods.