China’s Low-Altitude Ambitions Just Got Higher with Airship Purchase - CleanTechnica

China’s Zhejiang Airspace Integration Low-Altitude Industry Development Company recently ordered 18 AS700 “Xiangyun” airships from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), marking a significant step in China’s growing low-altitude economy. These manned lighter-than-air vehicles, about 50 meters long and capable of carrying ten passengers, operate at altitudes between 100 and 300 meters with a maximum range of 700 kilometers and endurance of 10 hours. Powered by a gasoline engine, the AS700 offers a low-carbon alternative to conventional regional aircraft, consuming only 15–50 liters of fuel per hour and producing 80–90% less CO₂ per hour compared to small planes like the Cessna 208 Caravan. The airships are intended primarily for tourism in China’s scenic coastal and karst regions, providing slow, quiet, and low-impact flights ideal for panoramic sightseeing and environmental monitoring. Beyond tourism, provincial governments plan to use these airships for tasks such as