China’s Low-altitude Economy on Cusp of Takeoff

A report from Xinhua on Mar. 24th, 2025:

China’s low-altitude economy is a strategic emerging sector that is key to developing new quality productive forces.

This year’s Government Work Report reiterated that China will encourage low-altitude industry players to carry out large-scale applications of new technologies, products and scenarios.

According to the report, the government will promote the safe and healthy development of emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy.

Meanwhile, the State Council — China’s Cabinet — issued a special action plan to boost consumption earlier this month. According to the guideline, the government will support the accelerated development of new types of consumption.

Specifically, the guideline said that the government would speed up the supervision system for the low-altitude economy, and encourage the orderly development of low-altitude consumption, such as low-altitude tourism, air sports and consumer drones.

The market size of China’s low-altitude economy is expected to reach 1.5 trillion yuan ($207.2 billion) this year, and estimated to touch 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035, according to a projection by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.