Low-altitude Economy 2026 — From "Systematic Implementation" to the Turning Point of "Scaled Economy"

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and four other departments jointly issued the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Capacity Building of the Information and Communication Industry to Support the Development of Low-Altitude Infrastructure” (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementation Opinions”), which has driven the market to refocus on the low-altitude industry. Combining the latest industry in-depth data, we analyze the development logic of the low-altitude economy in 2026 from five dimensions: policy logic, technological breakthroughs, industry status, future prospects, and main development themes.

1. What has happened? Policy re-catalysis

Recently, the “Implementation Opinions” released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and four other departments sent a very core signal: the competition in the low-altitude economy in the second half depends on “perception-integration” digital infrastructure.

The policy explicitly states the need to strengthen the integration and innovation of low-altitude equipment and low-altitude information communication, and to promote the compatibility verification of 5G/5G RedCap modules with low-altitude aircraft. The underlying commercial logic is very clear: for low-altitude aircraft (eVTOL, drones) to achieve large-scale, high-frequency commercial operations, the primary challenge is to ensure “visible, controllable, and collision-free” flight.

① The policy emphasizes promoting the development of the 5G-A industry and accelerating the maturity of perception-integration technology. This means base stations are no longer just signal towers but sensing nodes with “radar” functions, capable of real-time monitoring of low-altitude aircraft’s position, speed, and trajectory.

② Promoting the adaptation of 5G RedCap (lightweight 5G) modules aims to ensure low-latency communication while significantly reducing communication hardware costs for low-altitude aircraft. This is crucial for achieving the scale effect of “thousands of aircraft flying simultaneously” in the future.

③ Exploring the development of integrated modules for low-altitude communication, navigation, and surveillance functions. This marks a shift from “discrete sensor stacking” to “highly integrated and unified” aircraft systems.

In December 2025, the newly revised “Civil Aviation Law” was officially passed and will come into effect on July 1, 2026. This legally incorporates the “low-altitude economy” into the national legal framework, clarifying that airspace division should consider low-altitude economic development, providing institutional guarantees for resource allocation and airworthiness certification. The legal implementation signifies a qualitative change in industry certainty. After July 2026, all commercial closed-loop operations will have clear boundaries.

2. Why is it important? Reconstructing the growth premium in three-dimensional space

The reason the low-altitude economy is listed as a “strategic emerging industry” and a representative of “new quality productivity” is because it addresses the spatial premium problem amid increasing land resource scarcity. For a long time, China’s low-altitude airspace has been in a “blockade” state. The special measures deployed by the Central Air Traffic Management Committee in 2025 and the construction of a national-level regulatory platform essentially aim to monetize and transform this dormant “asset” into productive capacity.

Taking logistics as an example: by the end of 2025, Meituan drones had accumulated over 780,000 orders, with monthly delivery volume increasing by 65% year-on-year. This efficiency boost is not only a leap in speed but also a structural reduction in delivery costs.

According to current local government plans, Shanghai alone aims for a core industry scale of 80 billion yuan by 2028, driving over 20 billion yuan in industrial chain investment. Shenzhen has set a target of surpassing 130 billion yuan in output value by 2026. Such growth rates are highly scarce in the current macroeconomic environment.

By 2026, the low-altitude economy will exhibit three prominent features:

① Hardware: Airworthiness certification enters a “batching” stage. EHang EH216-S achieved “four certificates” in 2025 and began commercialization. By 2026, leading eVTOL manufacturers like Yufeng, Fengfei, and Wolant are expected to complete type certification (TC) or enter late-stage certification, with hundreds of aircraft orders beginning to enter delivery cycles.

② Software: Airspace management becomes more refined. Provincial and municipal low-altitude airspace management platforms are generally online, with detailed designated flight zones. By 2026, airspace management will shift from “static management” to “real-time dynamic coordination” to accommodate large-scale, high-frequency flights.

③ Infrastructure: Dense deployment. Shenzhen plans to build over 1,200 low-altitude takeoff and landing points and open more than 1,000 commercial routes by the end of 2026. This density indicates that low-altitude infrastructure construction has accelerated significantly.

The future five major trends of the low-altitude economy are becoming clearer: more refined airspace management; dense infrastructure deployment; rapid growth of low-altitude logistics; continuous technological upgrades; and eVTOL moving toward commercial operation. These are expected to drive the entire industry to accelerate development.

3. What to watch next? Industry and event node rhythm analysis

We must precisely identify the “long slope and thick snow” key links in the industry. It is recommended to focus on three major development directions of the low-altitude economy:

① Core manufacturing and high-threshold technological links

eVTOL manufacturers: prioritize leading companies that have obtained airworthiness certificates or have deep cooperation with authorities and possess mass production and delivery capabilities.

High-energy-density power systems: solid-state/semi-solid-state batteries are critical technological variables in 2026, determining whether eVTOL can achieve commercial cross-city flights.

Lightweight materials: low-altitude aircraft are extremely sensitive to thrust-to-weight ratio; the penetration of lightweight composite materials like carbon fiber will see explosive growth.

② Infrastructure and “digital blood vessels”—5G-A and perception-integration

According to the latest “Implementation Opinions” from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, focus on:

Base station upgrade equipment providers: telecom giants and supporting manufacturers capable of providing integrated 5G-A perception base stations and low-altitude intelligent network devices.

Fusion module suppliers: companies capable of R&D and mass production of integrated communication, navigation, and surveillance modules.

Low-altitude digital platform (SILAS): akin to an “operating system” for low-altitude, such as the second phase of Shenzhen’s SILAS system, which serves as the brain for airspace management and operation services.

③ Key time nodes

July 1, 2026: The new “Civil Aviation Law” officially comes into effect. This is the strongest catalyst for industry value centralization.

Q3/Q4 2026: Data on the opening of thousands of routes in key cities. This is a critical indicator to verify whether the commercial closed loop can generate profits.

Type certification (TC) issuance to leading manufacturers: Each TC certificate obtained signifies a company’s transition from “R&D firm” to “manufacturing enterprise.”

In summary, the 2026 low-altitude economy industry is at the intersection of technological dividends, policy incentives, and legal support—an overarching narrative involving airspace resource reallocation, deep integration of ICT, and high-end manufacturing domestic substitution.