BY MIKE DANILOVIC AND JASMINE LIHUA LIU
The logistics and transportation industry faces new challenges in managing technological advancements and new logistics solutions. Traditionally, transportation logistics has been viewed as separate silos: maritime, rail, and road transport. Technological advancements are now driving a transformation in which these silos are being integrated with a responsive air-based component.
The goal is not to replace existing infrastructure, but to create a multimodal system in which the right mode of transportation is used for the right need, in the right place, and at the right time. The new technology includes autonomous and driverless drones, eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft, and heavy unmanned transport aircraft. These systems often operate below 1,000 meters in altitude, are powered by renewable energy, and are controlled by artificial intelligence to optimize routes and safety. For Nordic operators, this presents an opportunity to address specific geographic challenges—from archipelagos to sparsely populated areas and mountainous regions—with new solutions.
Status of Technology and Regulation
The development of the low-altitude ecosystem has accelerated globally. Since its inception in 2014, the market has reached a level of maturity where commercial driverless operations without a pilot are becoming possible thanks to new technology and new regulations. In China, a comprehensive regulatory framework was established in 2025, enabling large-scale commercial operations for passenger and freight transport using autonomous vehicles (CAAC, 2025), (Liu & Danilovic, 2026). At the same time, a corresponding framework is being developed within the EU through EASA and national authorities such as the Swedish Transport Agency. The challenge no longer lies primarily in technical feasibility, but rather in establishing harmonized regulations that ensure aviation safety while enabling efficient commercial use (EASA, 2024).
Key components of the emerging low-altitude ecosystem:
• Autonomous passenger drones: Certified unmanned aircraft for 2–4 passengers that enable fast point-to-point transportation without airport infrastructure
• Autonomous heavy cargo aircraft: Unmanned aircraft with high capacity—up to 5,000 kg by 2027—and a range of over 2,600 km for regional freight distribution.
• Flying cars: Hybrid solutions for urban mobility that combine road and air travel capabilities.
• AI-driven logistics networks: ”Unified Traffic Management” (UTM) systems that coordinate aircraft in real time.
Significant Economic Value in the Low-Altitude Economy
The international financial institution Morgan Stanley estimates that the global low-altitude economy could be worth approximately 9,480 billion SEK by 2026 (roughly 1.6 times Sweden’s annual GDP) and approximately 85,320 billion SEK by 2050 (roughly 65 years’ worth of the national budget). China’s share is estimated at 23 percent of the global market by 2050, while U.S. companies are projected to account for 27 percent of the global market by 2050. China’s low-altitude economy is projected to reach a market size of 2,000 billion SEK by 2025 and continue to grow to 4,740 billion SEK by 2035, according to forecasts from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Significant economic value is at stake in the low-altitude economy.
From Comics to Reality
Flying cars have long been a feature of comic books and animated films. In 2026, electric vehicle manufacturer X-Peng will begin full-scale production of two models of flying cars. The images below show the company’s two product variants. What do these new technologies, products, system solutions, and logistics concepts mean for Sweden, the Nordic region, and Europe? How can we take advantage of the technical possibilities? How can we adapt logistics flows and develop the transportation system to make the most of this new technology?
Nordic Low-Altitude Flight in Practice
In a Swedish and Nordic context, there are numerous examples of how a seamless low-altitude air ecosystem could contribute to efficient, fast, and—in many cases—life-saving logistics.
1. Archipelago Logistics and Accessibility
Sweden’s long coastline and thousands of islands create logistical challenges, especially during the winter months when ferry service can be disrupted by ice. Pilot projects in the Stockholm archipelago have demonstrated the ability to deliver critical supplies, such as prescription medications, within 30 minutes regardless of weather conditions. Scaling up this model can ensure year-round accessibility for communities without the need for new physical infrastructure such as bridges or docks.
2. Firefighting
High-rise buildings pose a high risk in the event of a fire. Evacuating people is complicated and takes time. Firefighting is made more difficult by the height of the buildings. Sweden’s tallest building is Karlatornet in Gothenburg, which has 74 floors, followed by Kaknästornet in Stockholm with 34 floors, Norra Tornen with 35 floors, and Kista Science Tower with 32 floors. The fire departments in Stockholm and Gothenburg can reach a maximum of 23 meters up the buildings with aerial ladders, i.e., about 8 stories. How do you extinguish fires and rescue people from buildings taller than eight stories? A firefighting drone can quickly ascend to any floor level, equipped with devices that break windows and deploy fire-suppressing agents. The drone can also carry a ground-connected water hose for rapid and sustained firefighting. Multiple drones can land on the roof and evacuate people trapped inside the building. Injured individuals can be flown directly to nearby hospitals for immediate medical care.
3. Emergency Services
Sweden has vast, sparsely populated wilderness areas and mountain regions. Many people enjoy hiking in the forests and mountains and exploring rivers and the wilderness. Bad weather, poorly trained, and ill-equipped people can easily find themselves in distress, get lost, be injured in accidents, and need help. Traditional rescue efforts consist of manned helicopters searching for people or ground-based mountain rescue teams. Autonomous drones equipped with thermal sensors and motion detectors can scan large areas, searching for people and animals in distress. They can carry supplies and transport those in distress to mountain rescue stations or hospitals. This can be done regardless of the time of day or the location of the search, and drone-based search and rescue operations can even take place under weather conditions that conventional helicopters cannot handle. As a result, lives can be saved at a fraction of the cost of manned services and with a speed that prevents accidents from worsening and allows more people to be rescued.
4. Real-Time Road Safety
On major highways such as the E4 and E6, autonomous surveillance drones can patrol stretches of road, reducing response times from 12 minutes to less than 4 minutes under optimal conditions—which is critical for survival in serious traffic accidents. Sweden’s “Vision Zero” philosophy—to eliminate traffic fatalities—is strongly supported by low-altitude flights using drones and aircraft for surveillance and rescue operations:
- Continuous Patrol: Autonomous ”Guardian drones” (with a 12-hour flight time) fly at an altitude of 500 meters above major highways such as the E4 and E6, scanning traffic flow with LiDAR and thermal cameras. They detect anomalies invisible to ground-based sensors: a stranded vehicle around a blind curve, fog and slippery conditions forming on bridges, a moose approaching the road, or a pedestrian wandering onto the roadway at night.
- Immediate emergency response: When a multi-vehicle collision occurs near Södertälje at 10:17 p.m., Guardian drones are hovering nearby:
- Sends precise GPS coordinates and live video to SOS Alarm within 3 seconds
- Drops emergency kits containing food and water, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and LED warning lights at the scene of the accident
- Guides incoming ambulances and fire trucks along illuminated aerial paths and clears optimal routes through traffic.
- If the worst happens: In the event of a multi-vehicle collision with multiple injuries, driverless ”ambulance” drones are dispatched from a nearby hospital, carrying two ”ambulance” paramedics equipped with life-saving gear. Once on the scene, they can treat the injured and transport them by drone to the hospital before ambulances arrive at the accident site.
- Preventive measure: AI analysis identifies recurring accidents at specific intersections. Authorities receive data-driven recommendations for infrastructure adjustments—transforming reactive safety into predictive design. The result could be a 40 percent reduction in highway fatalities within five years of system implementation. Emergency response times are reduced from 12 minutes to less than 4—saving lives and reducing secondary accidents.
5. Cross-border freight transport
Imagine a coordinated air logistics corridor linking Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, and Copenhagen—a ”Nordic Skyway” that operates around the clock with military precision and for commercial purposes:
– 4:00 a.m. CET – A cargo drone (8-metric-ton capacity) departs from the Säve Logistics Hub near Gothenburg, carrying freshly caught North Sea fish and Bohuslän oysters. Flying at an altitude of 300 meters along low-altitude flight corridors, it reaches Stockholm-Bromma Airport in 55 minutes. Modular containers are seamlessly transferred to waiting eVTOL aircraft bound for Luleå, Östersund, or Helsinki.
– 5:30 a.m. CET – Two parallel flights depart from Stockholm: one carrying Swedish pharmaceuticals to Oslo Gardermoen SkyPort (arrival in 65 minutes), and another carrying Swedish spare parts for Volvo and Scania trucks to Helsinki. Danish dairy products and Norwegian salmon are flown from Copenhagen to Stockholm in 55 minutes. All flights are coordinated via Nordic UTM (Unified Traffic Management), a shared digital airspace platform jointly operated by the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Danish aviation authorities. As a result, same-day deliveries throughout the Nordic region become the norm. Perishable goods and food products retain their freshness, flavor, and quality. Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 60 percent compared to truck transport—in line with the Nordic Green Deal.
6. Medical Transport and Organ Care
A stroke patient at a rural clinic in Värmland needed specialized care in Stockholm last winter. Road transport would have taken over four hours. Instead, an eVTOL ambulance completed the journey in 70 minutes—equipped with basic life-saving equipment and a video link to doctors at Karolinska University Hospital. The medical team monitored vital signs throughout the journey. The patient received thrombolytic therapy within the critical time window, and as a result, a life was saved. This will not replace ground-based ambulances. However, in remote areas or congested corridors, it offers a lifeline where minutes can be crucial to the outcome. It complements existing solutions and saves lives.
No fantasies, just limitless possibilities
These examples are not figments of the imagination. They illustrate various realistic scenarios that could become reality if we learn to capitalize on the opportunities created by driverless drones and aircraft flying autonomously at low altitudes. The technology is available today. What’s missing is a coordinated regulatory framework across Nordic borders—and the ability of logistics operators to rethink route planning beyond paved roads.
Real Connections, Real Impact—What This Means for Us
The crucial question is not whether this technology is coming or whether it works. First-generation driverless autonomous drones and aircraft are already in commercial use. The question is whether Nordic logistics and transportation companies, municipalities, and transportation authorities will get involved early on to take advantage of the new technology and develop effective system solutions—or stand on the sidelines and watch while others set the rules of the game. Sweden has a history of practical innovation: the three-point seatbelt, district heating, and sustainable forestry. These were not born out of a pursuit of trends, but out of solutions to real problems, with consideration for people, nature, and places. Low-altitude logistics offers a similar opportunity—not to impress, but to connect needs with practical and effective solutions. To safeguard people’s lives and health with sustainable solutions. To provide fire departments with earlier warnings to enable preventive measures. To ensure that prescription medication reaches an elderly resident before the pharmacy closes. The sky above our forests, highways, and archipelagos is space to be used thoughtfully—so that no part of society is left behind simply because the road ends. The technology is here. The regulatory framework is evolving. Partnerships are being reshaped. What remains is our choice: to lead with foresight and concern for people, or to follow with regret and hindsight. The sky was never the limit. Technology is here to support the creation of a better world for people.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The technology for the low-altitude ecosystem is available today. The question is not whether the transformation will take place, but how Nordic players choose to position themselves. Historically, Swedish industry has led the way through practical innovation—from the three-point seatbelt to sustainable forestry. Low-altitude logistics offers a similar opportunity to solve real societal problems with new tools. To avoid ending up in a situation where external players define the rules of the game, early involvement from logistics companies, municipalities, and government agencies is required. It’s about moving from infrastructure to intelligence, where airspace is used as a resource to connect communities that are currently cut off by geographical limitations.
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Mike Danilovic is a professor at the Academy of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability at Halmstad University. Jasmine Lihua Liu holds a Ph.D. in Innovation Science from Halmstad University.
This article is based on research conducted as part of the ”Sweden-China Bridge” project, funded by the Swedish Transport Administration. The project is a collaboration between Halmstad University, VTI, and Shanghai Dianji University. For stakeholders wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the low-altitude economy ecosystem, a study tour will be held from October 31 to November 8, 2026, during which participants will gain direct insight into regulation, technology, and commercial operations. For more information, contact mike.danilovic@me.com or Jenny Lans at jenny@lansco.io.
References:
1. Liu, L., and Danilovic, M., 2026, *Low-Altitude Economy — A Strategic Transformation of Mobility and Logistics*, to be published in 2026.
2. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) (2025), Low-altitude economy development outlook: Market scale projections. Beijing: CAAC. Available at: https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202510/17/content_WS68f1feb5c6d00ca5f9a06ddb.html (Accessed: February 24, 2026).
3. European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (2024), Introduction of a Regulatory Framework for the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and for Urban Air Mobility in the European Union Aviation System. Cologne: EASA. Available at: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/notices-of-proposed-amendment/npa-2024-01 (Accessed February 24, 2026).
