Low-altitude economy rising quickly

China's policy support and increased capital spending are propelling its low-altitude economy to potentially lead the global market, following the trajectory set by electric vehicles, said business leaders attending the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province.

At the expo, industry leaders such as EHang and Autoflight have come together to showcase a range of cutting-edge products, including drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), as well as services such as three-dimensional traffic control systems and low-altitude flying scenario applications.

The term "low-altitude economy" typically refers to economic activities conducted within an airspace below 1,000 meters, encompassing various fields such as drone logistics, low-altitude tourism and aircraft production. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has previously forecast that the low-altitude economy could reach 3.5 trillion yuan ($479.3 billion) by 2035.