Aircraft manufacturer Airbus plans to launch on-demand helicopter services in China, the company said Wednesday during a briefing.

George Xu, Airbus China’s CEO, told reporters that the company expects to roll out the services in southern China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area sometime around the end of this year, adding that the area’s high urban density and consumption power show the business potential of short-distance air trips. Some of the flights may eventually be piloted by unmanned helicopters, Xu said.

Airbus’ helicopter manufacturing arm is the first foreign company to have established an assembly line in China, according to state news outlet China Daily. But it’s not the only company interested in on-demand air trips: Earlier this month, well-known domestic carmaker Geely agreed to invest $55 million in German flying-car developer Volocopter to beef up the latter's research capabilities and turn its airborne-taxi project into a commercial reality within three years.  

Related: Chinese Auto Giant Invests in Flying-Car Startup Volocopter