Sky's the limit: Intercity air routes fuel growth of low-altitude economy in Hongqiao

The "New Chapter in Low-Altitude Economy, New Momentum for Hongqiao Hub" seminar is held in Shanghai on Nov 6, part of the 2024 CIIE Shanghai Events and Conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Things are taking off in Shanghai's Hongqiao International Opening-Up Hub, which just unveiled multiple intercity low-altitude trial air routes spanning China's Yangtze River Delta region at the "New Chapter in Low-Altitude Economy, New Momentum for Hongqiao Hub" seminar on Nov 6, a move to boost the region's low-altitude economy.

The newly introduced routes connect Hongqiao with three key cities: Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, and Wuhu in Anhui province. The route is designed to cater to a wide range of applications, including business travel, tourism, medical rescue, emergency firefighting, and social governance, striving to form a closed-loop low-altitude economic ecosystem, thus fast-tracking the construction of a low-altitude economic corridor encompassing the Yangtze River Delta region.

Coinciding with the introduction of the new intercity air routes, the Hongqiao International Low-Altitude Economic Industrial Park, was also inaugurated on site to support the clustering and development of low-altitude enterprises. This will foster the creation of an integrated low-altitude industry chain and ecosystem. At present, Hongqiao aims high to build an innovation-driven hub for this future industry.

As an emerging industry, the low-altitude economy is rising as a way to bolster new quality productive forces and serve as a new engine for national economic development. Wu Guanghui, chief designer of China's homemade C919 aircraft, pointed out that a low-altitude economy is not only about technology innovation and industrial upgrading, but also a key driver for promoting regional economic integration, and enhancing national competitiveness.

The road to realizing "flying in the sky" and turning sci-tech imagination into a reality is a challenging one. A three-year plan launched at the seminar draws a blueprint for the low-altitude economy development scope, providing action plans and supporting policies for the development of low-altitude economy across the entire Yangtze River Delta region. As Hongqiao continues to strengthen its infrastructure and policy framework, the vision of a dynamic, integrated low-altitude economy is steadily becoming a reality.