China's AS700 manned airship on Friday completed its maiden commercial flight in central China's Hubei Province, marking a milestone as the nation's first domestic airship to enter commercial operation.
The AS700 took off from Wuhan Hannan Airport. During its low-altitude debut, the airship performed demonstration flights over several urban districts before returning safely to its base.
The airship is designed to meet a growing demand for low-altitude economy applications.
"The airship is distinguished by its low-altitude and low-speed flight profile, combined with high safety and exceptional stability. It offers a maximum range of 700 kilometers and an endurance of up to 10 hours, with a service ceiling of 3,000 meters. These characteristics make it ideal for aerial sightseeing, outdoor advertising, and emergency rescue operations," said Chen Yangling, chairman of Changjiang Hangte Low-Altitude Aircraft Technology Co., Ltd.
The airship is operated exclusively by Changjiang Hangte, a subsidiary of Changjiang Industrial Investment Group. In December 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China's Central and Southern Regional Administration issued an operating certificate for the company, making it China's first enterprise authorized to conduct commercial manned airship operations.
Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage its international marketing center in Wuhan city and its primary manufacturing base in Jingmen city to develop a range of products, including aerostats and unmanned cargo aircraft.
"Our vision is to build a distinctive low-altitude economy industrial cluster by integrating research and development, manufacturing, production and commercial operations across the entire industry chain," Chen said.
China’s AS700 manned airship completes first commercial flight
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is emerging as a key engine for China's fast-growing low-altitude economy by leveraging its dense industrial networks, efficient logistics systems, and rapid innovation capacity.
From logistics and manufacturing to urban services, the region is building an integrated industrial chain that allows low-altitude industries to scale up at unprecedented speed, thus turning drone-based applications from isolated trials into large-scale, commercial operations.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, calls for the cultivation of new pillar industries and the accelerated development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, including the low-altitude economy.
At a drone operations center in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province, a dozen logistics drones take off and land within minutes. Urgently needed production parts, documents, and small parcels are dispatched from here to cities in the province including Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
Behind these high-flying aircraft lies what observers describe as an "invisible industrial chain", built on speed and efficiency.
"Look at this aircraft. About 90 percent of its components come from nearby areas. Relying on Shenzhen's strong logistics capabilities and its complete supply chain, these parts can be delivered to our factory within half an hour for assembly, processing, and production," said Li Kunhuang, person-in-charge of Shenzhen GODO Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
Once a new product is unveiled, testing and calibration begin immediately at the drone testing field. As soon as the process is completed, the new models can be put into real-world operation, realizing almost “zero delay” from research and development to application.
Supported by a robust industrial chain, low-altitude routes in Shenzhen are effectively connecting the urban landscape. From its Bao'an District to Songshan Lake in Dongguan City, production components can be delivered within one hour. Supplies are transported between Zhuhai City's Xiangzhou Port to Dong'ao Island in just 25 minutes. And light industrial goods can travel round-trip within a single day between Guzhen Town in Zhongshan City and Xinhui District in Jiangmen City.
More low-altitude application scenarios are expected to be implemented in the near future.
In Qianhai District, Shenzhen is accelerating the construction of a pilot demonstration zone of low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub.
"We have built the country's first low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub, and are gradually developing a pilot flight zone that integrates multiple scenarios such as inspection, logistics, and cultural tourism. This will provide technical support for the next step of commercializing cross-border logistics and emergency rescue services across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wu Xuemin, head of the Shenzhen Qianhai Low-Altitude Integrated Three-Dimensional Transportation Hub Pilot Demonstration Zone.
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
