Tibet's fifth civil airport to be opened in October

Sunday, April 11, 2010

ANI
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The inauguration ceremony on construction work of the Peace Airport in Shigatse Prefecture, southwestern Tibet, on 29 April 2009.(File photo/Xinhua/Chogo/China)

Lhasa, TIBET-- The fifth civil airport in Tibet is expected to start operations in October.

Director of the Civil Aviation Administration’s Tibet Branch, Xu Bo, said that the construction of the Peace Airport in Xigaze (Tib: Shigatse) would be completed in September, making its opening in October feasible.

With an investment of 489 million yuan, the airport would be able to handle 230,000 passengers and 1,150 tonnes of cargo and allow 2,580 take-offs and landings annually by 2020, Xinhua news agency reported.

It is believed the project will boost investment and tourism in Xigaze, the second largest city in Tibet.

The Peace Airport would be the fifth civil airport in Tibet, after Gonggar airport in Lhasa, Bamda airport in Qamdo (Tib: Chamdo), Mainling airport in Nyingchi and Gunsa airport in Ngari.

Tibet also plans to build the world’s highest airport, Nagqu (Tib: Nagchu) Dagring airport, at an altitude of 4,436 metres in Nagqu Prefecture, the report added.