Shannan Longzi Airport: Tibet's Newest Aviation Hub Flights

Shannan Longzi Airport, the sixth airport in Tibet for both military and civilian aviation, welcomed its first commercial flight on January 12. During the initial operations phase, Air China will operate a weekly flight from Chengdu Shuangliu to Shannan.

Shannan Longzi Airport sits at an altitude of 3980 meters and is classified as a 4C high plateau airport with a planned yearly passenger capacity of 180,000. China is home to all five of the world’s highest civilian airports, including Shannan Longzi.

Daocheng Aden
Chamdo Bangda
Ngari Kunsha
Ganzi Kangding

Importance of Shannan Longzi Airport

Shannan Longzi Airport received support from Capital Airport Group and was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in April 2021. It is located 170 km from Gongga Airport, 217 km from Nyingchi Airport, and 100 km from Tawang. Currently, Tibet is served by Gongga in Lhasa, Bangda in Qamdo, Nyingchi Milin, Shigatse Peace, and Ali Kunsha airports. Shannan Longzi Airport is now operational and will be followed by Shigatse Dingri Airport’s navigation.

With an average elevation of 3980 meters, the project spans an area of about 50,000 square meters. Longzi Airport is a significant livelihood project in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its completion will advance the enhancement and support of the surrounding transportation infrastructure, employment opportunities, rural revitalization, and civil aviation capacity to serve economic and social development, and local economic and social progress.

The courageous and united Gunai people refuse to succumb to the inhospitable terrain of the snowy plateau, also known as the “restricted area of life.” They conquer extreme challenges such as frigid temperatures, oxygen depletion, sun exposure, and sandstorms, and undertake the daunting task of constructing an “air sky road.”

Longzi Airport: One of the Highest airports in the World

Located in the western part of Longzi County, Shannan Longzi Airport resides in a valley. Although not visible on satellite maps, its runway measures 4,500 meters and sits at 3,950 meters above sea level, ranking it seventh amongst China’s “high-altitude airports,” such as Yushu Batang Airport. Since establishing five other airports in Lhasa, Qamdo, Shigatse, Nyingchi, and Ali, Longzi Airport is the sixth transport airport in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Check the Official website of Tibet Airlines