Governmental plan for low-altitude air-transport sector
What
- Importance: In 2021, the concept of low-altitude economy was written into national planning for the first time. In 2023, the Central Economic Work Conference includes the low-altitude economy as a strategic emerging industry. During the Two Sessions in 2024, the low-altitude economy was written into the government work report for the first time and will be attributed as an emerging industry and a future industry to become a new growth engine for China's economic development.
- Action plan: As of April 2024, there are 26 provinces have made action plans in the government work reports for the development of low-altitude economy, launched implementation-level policies and detailed rules for the development of low-altitude economy, determined development goals, and detailed development plans, which will accelerate the low-altitude economic industry.
- Market size: In 2023, China's low-altitude economic market size has reached 505.95 billion RMB, with a year-on-year growth rate of 33.8%. It is expected that in 2026, the market size China's low-altitude economic will further expand to one trillion RMB, with a compound annual growth rate of 30% from 2023 to 2026.
- Business opportunity: This important measure not only promotes the vigorous development of low-altitude economy-related industries such as general aircraft, drones, and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing), but also provides huge development opportunities for supporting infrastructure and operational services.
- eVTOL: Is the main urban air transportation method for personal travel and public travel. It is generally driven by electric power, which includes different energy forms such as batteries and fuel cells. The battery and fuel cell provider, aircraft power systems, aircraft control systems, navigation systems, autonomous driving systems, communication systems, airframe and seat material companies will benefit.
- Infrastructure: Building low-altitude intelligent integrated infrastructure is the core and foundation for the high-quality development of low-altitude economy. Low-altitude flight infrastructure includes not only the physical infrastructure of general airports and various take-off and landing points, but also low-altitude flight communications, navigation, surveillance, meteorological monitoring and other information infrastructure, as well as low-altitude flight digital management service system.
- Aircraft control system: The air traffic control system acts on the entire process from aircraft takeoff to landing. It is a strategic infrastructure for implementing airspace management, ensuring flight safety, and achieving efficient and orderly operation of air transportation. Air traffic control system, namely communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system, referred to as CNS/ATM system. Among them, the communication, navigation and surveillance part (CNS) belongs to the category of peripheral facilities. The air traffic management system (ATM) is an information processing system actually used by air traffic controllers to manage air traffic. It consists of air traffic services (ATS), air traffic flow management (AFTM) and airspace management (ASM).
- Concrete project plan in province: Suzhou has signed 251 low-altitude economic projects since 2024, among them, there are more than 150 low-altitude manufacturing projects. Suzhou plans to invest of over 73 billion RMB for constructing 251 low-altitude projects from 2024 to 2026 which will create huge opportunity of related companies.
Call to action
Please contact amanda.alkemark@business-sweden.se for more information.