In a significant leap for its low-altitude economy, China recently launched its first drone-powered logistics route across the Bohai Sea, directly linking the northeastern city of Dalian with Qingdao in the east. The route, which commenced operations this week, promises to dramatically slash delivery times between these two key economic hubs.
The initiative utilizes a large fixed-wing unmanned aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tonnes. Covering a one-way distance of 340 kilometers, each flight takes approximately two hours. This new aerial corridor presents a stark contrast to traditional transport methods. Currently, rail and road travel between cities in Liaoning and Shandong provinces typically exceeds eight hours, while sea transport can range from five to ten hours.
"This route represents a breakthrough in deploying low-altitude equipment in complex maritime environments," said Liu Fawang, deputy director of the Equipment Industry Development Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He added that it helps establish an "aerial corridor" across the Bohai Strait, filling a critical gap in cross-sea logistics and improving the integrated transport network in the Bohai Rim region.
On the ground, efforts are accelerating to support this growing sector. Zhang Peipei, an official with the low-altitude economy task force in Laixi, Qingdao, noted that work is underway to expand airport fueling facilities and improve access to aviation fuel services. The goal is to enhance operational capacity through strengthened investment promotion and enterprise support within a dedicated aerospace equipment industrial park.
The new route is set to primarily serve major corporations like China Post, transporting a wide array of goods including daily necessities, business documents, high-value pharmaceuticals, and emergency supplies. This development marks a major step in advancing China's low-altitude industry from concept to real-world, large-scale application, showcasing a commitment to innovative and efficient logistics solutions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
