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

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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:

EHang in China has received the full suite of regulatory approvals, including air operator certificates, allowing it to begin human-carrying eVTOL operations for aerial tourism in Guangzhou and Hefei, making China the first country to launch commercial eVTOL services.
While American manufacturers have invested billions in eVTOL development, the U.S. FAA has not yet authorized any design for commercial passenger service, with 2025 launch targets considered "highly unlikely."
China's state-led approach has prioritized self-flying eVTOLs and "human-carrying" operations, aiming for a "low-altitude economy," contrasting with the U.S.'s largely privately-backed industry which focuses first on crewed eVTOLs for broader "passenger transport."

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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.