Logistics Distribution: "Low-Altitude Air Network" Opens Up the "Last Mile"
Logistics Distribution: "Low-Altitude Air Network" Opens Up the "Last Mile"
2026-02-19
Logistics Distribution: "Low-Altitude Air Network" Opens Up the "Last Mile"
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are restructuring the spatial pattern of logistics. In the mountainous areas of Shiyan, Hubei Province, an "air corridor" composed of 74 low-altitude take-off and landing sites and 42 logistics routes has been built. The delivery time of express mail from counties and townships to villages and towns has increased by 70%, the average cost per piece has decreased by 0.28 yuan, and the monthly number of express items sent to Guandu Town has increased from 4,000 to 8,000. Urban and rural logistics is no longer hindered by terrain.
In cities such as Shenzhen and Shanghai, Meituan drones have opened 70 routes, completed a total of 780,000 deliveries, and 160,000 types of commodities have flown from restaurants and supermarkets to communities. Within 15 minutes, they can be delivered within a 3-kilometer range, making "airborne food delivery" a reality.
More importantly, the logistics value of UAVs in special scenarios is irreplaceable. Walmart has completed more than 150,000 deliveries via drones, covering 1.8 million households; in emergency rescue, UAVs can accurately deliver food and medicines to earthquake-stricken areas, and urgently transport blood and organs to hospitals, striving for time for lives.
Data from the Shenzhen Municipal Postal Administration shows that at present, the daily average number of express items transported by drones in Shenzhen has reached 20,000, proving that the business model of low-altitude logistics has matured.