China Approves Passenger Operations With Self-Flying Electric Aircraft

Paying customers can now take EHang’s EH216-S for a spin, marking a new phase in China’s low-altitude economy.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 at 03:31 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Daleo

Customers in the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Hefei can purchase tickets for a tourism or sightseeing flight in EHang’s self-flying EH216-S. [Courtesy: EHang]

Key Takeaways:

China has launched the world's first commercial eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) operations, with EHang receiving full regulatory approvals for human-carrying flights, initially for aerial tourism in Guangzhou and Hefei.
This places China ahead of American manufacturers, who have invested billions but are still awaiting FAA certification for commercial passenger service and face infrastructure development challenges.
The U.S. and China have distinct eVTOL development strategies: China prioritizes self-flying models with state backing, aiming for a "low-altitude economy," while the U.S. focuses on crewed aircraft first with predominantly private funding.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A crop of American aircraft manufacturers has poured billions of dollars in venture capital into a design they believe will fundamentally change the way people move through cities: the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi. As soon as this year, the aircraft could begin flying passengers in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. But the first eVTOL to carry paying customers will debut in China.

In a major development for the industry, eVTOL manufacturer EHang on Sunday said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) awarded air operator certificates to its subsidiaries EHang General Aviation in Guangzhou and HeYi Aviation in Hefei. The initial approvals authorize the world’s first human-carrying operations with an electric, self-flying aircraft: EHang’s EH216-S. Customers in Guangzhou and Hefei can now buy tickets for aerial tourism, sightseeing, and experiential flights.