Xiangyun AS700 (Derijable)

2026: Use in Commercial Transportation

On January 9, 2026, China's first certified manned airship, the AS700 Xiangyun, completed its debut commercial flight in Hubei province. The device flew along the route between the cities of Jingmen and Wuhan with a return to the departure point.

The airship was designed and built by Changjiang Hangte Low-altitude Aircraft Technology, part of Changjiang Industrial Investment Group. The aircraft received type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in December 2023, which allowed its commercial operation. AS700 is designed to work within the framework of the country's developing "low-altitude economy" - a concept involving the active use of airspace up to 300 meters from the ground for civil and commercial tasks.

𝓲

Фото: Global Times

The length of the airship is 50 m, the maximum flight range is 700 km, the practical ceiling is 3 km. The speed of the device reaches 100 km/h. It is capable of being in the air for up to 10 hours and carrying up to 10 people, including a pilot. Major applications include aviation tourism, emergency response operations, territory monitoring, logistics, and advertising.

The development of the model continues. According to Ilkha, a fully electric version of the AS700D with a reduced noise level and minimal emissions into the atmosphere has already been created and tested. Its first flight took place in early 2025.

Commercial airship operations are expected to expand AS700 as pilots are trained and new examples are released. Aviation officials and industry partners see the flight of the vehicle not only as a technological achievement, but also as an indicator of China's growing role in the innovative civil aviation sectors.^[1]

Notes