Southern Xinjiang's Qira County to build new airport

An airport project, located in the southern part of Qira County (also known as Cele County), Hotan Prefecture, in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has received approval for construction, according to Xinjiang Daily on Thursday.

The project is scheduled to begin full construction by the end of 2024 and be available for operation in 2025.

Qira County is located at the southernmost tip of Xinjiang region, bordered by the Kunlun Mountains to the south and the Taklamakan Desert to the north. 

Xinjiang region shares borders with eight countries, including Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. 

The new airport is designated as an A1-level general airport and will feature a runway measuring 1,800 meters in length and 30 meters in width, along with two vertical connection roads, 13 parking spaces (10B3H), an 1,800-square-meter general aviation terminal (including a control tower), a 2,400-square-meter hangar, and other supporting facilities, Xinjiang Daily said.

The airport will primarily serve short-distance transportation, aerial tours, and flight training for Qira County and surrounding areas, according to Xinjiang Daily.

The project will enhance the layout of general aviation airports in Xinjiang and improve the local integrated transportation system, as well as external transportation conditions. It will strengthen emergency rescue capabilities and promote high-quality economic and social development in the region, Xinjiang Daily noted.

The Xinjiang region has the highest number of domestic transportation airports in China, totaling 27, along with 2 A1-level general airports and 15 B-level general airports. It has become a leading area in the rapidly growing general aviation sector, both in terms of fleet size and airport numbers. 

A1-level airports are general airports open to the public that involve commercial passenger flights using aircraft with more than 10 passenger seats. A2-level airports involve commercial passenger flights using aircraft with 5 to 9 passenger seats. B-level airports are not open to the public, according to Civil Aviation Administration of China regulation.  

Xinjiang plans to establish 98 general airports of A2-level or higher by 2035, achieving a density of 5.9 airports per 100,000 square kilometers, according to Xinjiang Daily.