The year of 2024 marks the beginning of the low-altitude economy. At China’s Two Sessions in 2024, the low-altitude economy was written as a new growth engine in the government work report, with local industrial promotion policies quickly following suit.
While there is no official definition for the low-altitude economy, industry consensus is that it encompasses economic activities below 3000 meters in altitude, driven by flight activities. “The low-altitude economy can be understood as new general aviation, characterised by three main features: vertical take-off and landing, new energy and smart piloting,” said Guo Liang, CEO and Chief Scientist of AEROFUGIA, in an interview with Caijing. Compared to the still-developing eVTOL industry, China’s drone industry has a greater advantage and is currently the leading sector in the low-altitude economy. According to Yang Jincai, chairman of the World UAV Federation, the low-altitude economy includes 85% drones and 15% general aviation, with broad application fields and operational scenarios. The industry ecosystem includes manufacturing, flight, support and comprehensive services.
Transitioning from a policy buzzword to actual low-altitude consumption and lifestyle will require overcoming hurdles in infrastructure, technological routes, business models, regulatory innovations and more.
