Scheduled operator Sky Shuttle has finally ceased operations by surrendering their Air Operations Certificate, according to CH Aviation. This decision is the final stage in a down-turn for the company which started in 2018 with the opening of a road bridge between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The pandemic also significantly dented progress and they effectively stopped operations at in February 2020.

In March 2023, Sky Shuttle published a new timetable and fare structure, suggesting a re-launch with destinations of Hong Kong, Macau and Shentzhen. Days later the link within their website to the timetables was removed, although the page still exists “behind the scenes”.

The operator had a fleet of six Leonardo AW139 helicopters and had a significant scheduled passenger network between Hong Kong and Macau – duplicating a historic marine service for those passengers who could not afford the much longer time afloat.

Sky Shuttle lost one of their AW139s in a well-publicised ditching in Hong Kong Harbour in July 2010.

In 2022, two AW139s were sold to Eagle Copters in Canada, followed in autumn 2023 a further AW139 to Eurotec Vertical Flight Solutions in Kansas.

Helicopter market intelligence organisation Parapex Media tracked another AW139 being shipped “from Macau to Africa” according to the shipping agent – initially by barge from Macau to Hong Kong and then via a container ship.

One AW139 remains unaccounted for.

Prior to the AW139s, Sky Shuttle flew Sikorsky S76 helicopters