Public air routes for low-altitude economies: Priority infrastructure beneficially associated with ground roads

The emerging low-altitude economy (LAE) hinges on effectively managing high-density aerial traffic flows. Establishing a system of low-altitude public air routes offers a feasible solution to handle this congestion. In this context, these routes are conceptualized as foundational “sky–road” infrastructure, and it is proposed that they be treated as fixed assets endowed with tradable or transferable property rights. Previous analysis suggests that building a public low-altitude air-route network can generate significant socioeconomic benefits, potentially beyond those of conventional ground transportation. Although “building sky roads” poses technological and regulatory challenges, extending the principles of terrestrial road networks into low-altitude airspace allows existing planning standards and governance mechanisms to be largely adapted to this new domain. This approach can transform many of these challenges into opportunities, laying the groundwork for a robust LAE in the future.