Airport Brief Facts
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (IATA: LXA, ICAO: ZULS) is the largest and most important airport in Tibet Autonomous Region. It also plays as the most important arrival hub for both domestic and international travelers which provides a lot of convenient and efficient flights connecting Lhasa with other major airports in the rest cities of China, such as Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Kunming, etc. The airport is one of the highest airports in the world with an elevation of 3,570 meters (11,710 ft).
IATA Code: LXA
ICAO Code: ZULS
Chinese Name: 拉萨贡嘎国际机场
Address: Gyazuling Town, Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet, about 60km from Lhasa downtown
Major Connected Cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Xian, Kunming, Shanghai, Chongqing, Kathmandu
About Lhasa Gonggar International Airport
Brief History
During the World War II, the USA Airforce had tried many times to open up a new airline to fly over Tibet Plateau, but all failed. Later, the Republic of China also had carried out a plan with purpose to launch a brand new air route to connect Lhasa with Kangding in Sichuan Province. The plan wasn’t implemented because of extreme air condition and high elevations of Tibet Plateau. All these failed trials made Tibet a “Forbidden Air Zone”.
In 1956, Damxung County, about 103mi (166km) from Lhasa City, was chosen as the base to construct the first airport in Tibet because of its location at the plain grassland. On May 29, 1956, a Convair CV-240-401 departed from Guanghan Airport in Sichuan Province, and made successful landing on the runway of Damxung Airport, and broke the jinx of the “Forbidden Air Zone”.
As the deployment of both aerotechnics, the capital city Lhasa was expected to establish a larger and new airport. Thun the Gonggar International Airport was constructed in 1965. Later, the first civil air route was launched: Beijing – Chengdu – Lhasa. After decades’ expansion of facilities, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport has become the most important flight hub in the Tibetan plateau connecting many airports in China and Kathmandu Airport.
Flying through the challenging Tibet Plateau and then landing at an airport at the high altitude of 3,700 meters (12,100 ft) seems to be a little bit adventurous. But don’t worry, all the pilots are well trained to be qualified to fly the planes professionally and safely.
Terminal Facilities
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport covers a total area around 25,000 square meters (around 6.2 acres) with a 4000 meters long, 45 meters wide runway. Passenger handling facilities such as the hall for seeing off passengers, ticketing office, and baggage collection beltways are on the 1st floor of the new terminal building, while the departure lounge is on the 2nd floor, as well as restaurants and shopping malls.
