What is low-altitude economy? Decoding the new engine of future industrial growth

Since being included in the government work report during the Two Sessions, the term "low-altitude economy" has gained continuous traction, with China's low-altitude economy entering a period of rapid development. According to the "China Low-Altitude Economic Development Research Report (2024)" released by CCID Consulting's Intelligent Equipment Industry Research Center, China's low-altitude economy reached 505.95 billion yuan in 2023, representing a 33.8% year-on-year growth, and is expected to exceed one trillion yuan by 2026. So what exactly is the low-altitude economy? What industrial development directions does this trillion-yuan blue ocean market encompass?

What is the Low-Altitude Economy? Developing Low-Altitude Resources to Empower Industries

The so-called "low-altitude economy" refers to a comprehensive economic ecosystem that utilizes low-altitude airspace as its foundation, employs both manned and unmanned civil aircraft as carriers, and drives integrated development across related fields through various low-altitude flight activities including passenger transport, cargo delivery, and other operations.

To answer "what is the low-altitude economy," we can examine it from two dimensions: "low-altitude" and "economy." The former encompasses industries such as aircraft R&D and manufacturing, low-altitude flight infrastructure construction and operation, and flight service support, with related products including drones and eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft). The latter focuses on application scenarios, incorporating both traditional general aviation operations and new production service models enabled by drones, with wide applications across industrial, agricultural, and service sectors. Experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have noted that the essence of the low-altitude economy lies in developing and utilizing low-altitude airspace as a resource, with its upstream and downstream industrial chains containing enormous market potential.

How to Strategize in the Low-Altitude Economy? Leveraging Emerging Models to Optimize Industrial Systems

Given the vast development potential of this trillion-yuan blue ocean market, how can enterprises position themselves to ride the momentum of the low-altitude economy and secure a place in the relevant industrial chain? First, let's understand what constitutes advantageous industries in the low-altitude economy.

Across the current low-altitude economy industrial chain, drone logistics undoubtedly represents the most widely applied scenario. Data shows that in 2023, China had 1.267 million registered drones, a 32.2% year-on-year increase, with flight hours reaching 23.11 million, up 11.8% year-on-year. "Building on applications in personal consumption, geographic mapping, and aerial photography, drones are now being utilized in emergency rescue, communication relay, weather monitoring, and other emerging scenarios, with drone logistics achieving large-scale application," said Han Jun, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Take Hunan Zhihang Feigou Co., Ltd., for example—the world's first company to innovate an "AI drones + instant retail + instant delivery" IoT model. By integrating platforms such as the Zhihang Feigou APP, commercial platforms, and logistics management systems, it achieves highly efficient logistics distribution.

At a recent urban low-altitude logistics maiden flight ceremony in Hunan Province, Hunan Zhihang Feigou Technology Co., Ltd. partnered with Hangzhou Songba Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. to demonstrate the efficient application of drone logistics in product delivery and medical resource transportation, highlighting its powerful role in building modern, high-performance industrial ecosystems.

Therefore, to "make a mark" in the low-altitude economy industrial chain, enterprises can leverage drone technology to optimize their service capabilities. For instance, Zhumian International Shopping Center has signed strategic cooperation agreements with Hunan Bonded Port Economic & Trade Company and Hunan Zhihang Feigou Co., Ltd. to jointly explore and develop an innovative "low-altitude logistics + import exhibition and sales" model. In the future, advanced technologies such as drone logistics, big data, and AI will enable customers to enjoy "30-minute delivery" for duty-free shopping.

What is the low-altitude economy? In short, it is an economic model that unlocks the value of low-altitude airspace to empower ground-based industrial chains. Currently, China's low-altitude economy demonstrates strong prospects—fast network construction, high-speed growth, positive momentum, and vast potential. With emerging models like drone logistics leading the way, various industries are poised to explore new development opportunities in this trillion-yuan blue ocean market.