EHang Completes Over 5,000 Pilotless Passenger Flights in Hefei with EH216-S as Hey Airlines Eyes Commercial Operations
Why It MattersThe milestone signals China's advancing regulatory and operational framework for pilotless eVTOL passenger services, a step other markets pursuing urban air mobility have yet to match.
Nasdaq-listed EHang has completed more than 5,000 pilotless passenger flights in Hefei, Anhui province, using its EH216-S aircraft, according to Fei Weixin, an executive at the company's Hefei branch. The milestone lays the groundwork for future commercial operations in the region.
In 2024, EHang partnered with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hefei to establish Hey Airlines, a joint venture focused on specialized low-altitude transport. The following year, Hey Airlines received an operating certificate from China's Civil Aviation Administration for pilotless passenger flights, while the EH216-S had already been granted type, airworthiness, and production certificates, giving the venture the full set of qualifications required for such operations.
Fei noted that pilotless passenger flights demand the highest safety standards, and EHang has built multiple layers of redundancy into the aircraft. The EH216-S is fitted with 16 rotors, letting it keep flying safely if some fail, is quieter than a conventional helicopter, and produces zero emissions, making it suited to urban settings where it can take off and land on rooftops, in parks, and beside transportation hubs. The aircraft appeared at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, where a formation of 16 performed at the Hefei sub-venue.
Beyond passenger transport, Hey Airlines' fleet includes the EH216-F firefighting variant and the EH216-L logistics variant. EHang is also developing supporting industries in Hefei, including pilot training and maintenance services, to support the broader low-altitude aviation industrial chain.
