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Drone delivery service launches in China’s Greater Bay Area, slashing transport time and costs between cities

  • Flight between Zhongshan and megacity of Shenzhen takes around 45 minutes and costs 40 yuan (US$5.60) per order, according to UAV-maker Phoenix Wings
  • The company, backed by Chinese logistics giant SF Express, says the service can be used for emergency support and rapid transport of goods

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The drone delivery service between Shenzhen and Zhongshan will operate six days a week and can carry goods weighing up to 20kg (44lbs). Photo: X / @ThisisZhongshan
A new commercial cargo drone route launched in southern China’s Greater Bay Area on Friday, delivering goods by air while cutting intercity transport time by nearly an hour.
The 70km (43-mile) flight between Shenzhen and Zhongshan – both in Guangdong province – takes the unmanned aerial vehicle around 45 minutes. It costs 40 yuan (US$5.60) per delivery order, to be completed within four hours, and can transport goods weighing up to 20kg (44lbs).

Drone manufacturer Phoenix Wings said in a WeChat post that the drone has an average cruising speed of 108km/h (67mph) and could be used for emergency support, intercity rapid delivery and offshore logistics.

Its service runs six days a week from 9am to 6pm, with exceptions for extreme weather events and airspace control.

The Germany-based firm is backed by parent company SF Express, a major Chinese logistics service provider.

Zhongshan transport bureau chief Cao Fuquan said the launch of the first cross-water low-altitude logistics route in the Greater Bay Area would boost the efficiency of express delivery between the two cities and reduce costs.
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