Need a ride in busy Beijing? Dial-a-chopper takes off

A trial helicopter hailing service jointly launched by Chinese general aviation operator Reignwood Star Co Ltd and China's biggest taxi hailing platform proved a hit at the weekend in the congested capital of Beijing, the operator said on Monday.

More than 10,000 applicants signed-up for the helicopter service using Didi Kuaidi's platform, but only 100 managed to hail a ride, said Lv Gang, Reignwood Star's marketing chief. "It was a three-day trial run from May 15. So many people signed up for it, but we didn't have the capacity to accommodate them," said Lv.