Air Line Information
Few people know that the city Mianyang, about 110km from Chengdu, has two non-stop flights to Lhasa each day. Mianyang is a beautiful and historical city in Sichuan Province, located along the road to Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu. For travelers who find it very difficult to book a flight to Tibet during peak season, Mianyang might be a great Plan-B. If you happen to be visiting Mianyang or surrounding tourist destinations, you can choose Mianyang as the gateway to Lhasa.
Distance: 1412miles (2274km)
Flying Duration: less 2.5 hours
Major Airlines: Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines
Frequency: around 3 flights per day
Flight Type: non-stop flights + connecting flights
Ticket Full Price: 1740 CNY (economy class)
Airports: Mianyang Nanjiao Airport (MIG) – Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA)
Why Take Flight to Lhasa from Mianyang
1. It is inexpensive, and cost fewer hours to take a flight from Mianyang to Lhasa, compared with other top cities like Bejing, Guangzhou, Xian and Shanghai. Usually only about 2 hours and 20 minutes are needed for the flight transfer. And the full price for an economy class ticket is only 1740 CNY (around $256).
2. Mianyang can be used as a great backup plan when you might be not able to book a Tibet flight from Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc. It is usually much easier to book a flight to Lhasa from Mianyang especially during moths like July, August, September and October.
3. Mianyang can be reached from Chengdu or Jiuzhaigo conveniently. From Chengdu, there are many high speed trains to Mianyang which cost less 1 hour to go. From Jiuzhaigou, there are many buses to Mianyang City, costing only about 5 hours.
4. Mianyang is the second largest flight hub in Sichuan Province. It is well connected to other cities in China, such as Xian, Beijing, Shenzhen, Lijiang, Zhengzhou, Urumqi etc. You can definitely travel from these cities to Mianyang, then take a flight to Tibet.
5. Mianyang is a great place for a short break. It is famous for historical sites of Tang Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Culture.
Mianyang Lhasa Flights Schedules, Airlines and Fares
Currently there are 5~6 flights flying between Mianyang Nanjiao Airport and Lhasa Gonggar Airport every day – 2 or 3 flights to Lhasa from Mianyang and 3 or 4 flights to Mianyang from Lhasa. Please note that the flight schedules will be cut down during winter and spring seasons.
Mianyang to Lhasa Flights Timetable
Every day, there are 2 or 3 flights departing from Mianyang to Lhasa, including 2 direct flights which fly everyday in a week, and a connecting flight which usually make stopover at Lanzhou. Check out the following latest updated Mianyang to Lhasa flights schedules:
| Flight No. | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Frequency | Plane | Ticket |
| 3U8775 Sichuan Airlines | 12:40 Nanjiao Airport | 15:00 Gonggar Airport | 2h 20m | SMTWTFS | Airbus A319 | 2500 ¥ Economy Class |
| TV9824 Tibet Airlines | 19:20 Nanjiao Airport | 21:40 Gonggar Airport | 2h 20m | SMTWSFS | Airbus A319 | 1679 ¥ Economy Class |
| HU7371 Hainan Airlines TV9838 Tibet Airlines | 14:00 Nanjiao Airport transfer Lanzhou | 23:05 Gonggar Airport | 9h 5m | -M – W – – – | Boeing 737 Airbus A319 | / Economy Class |
Lhasa to Mianyang Flights
There are usually 3 or 4 flights departing at noon hours from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to Mianyang each day with a duration between 2h 10m. The connecting flights are sometimes available. They usually make stopovers at Kunming. Check out following latest updated Lhasa to Mianyang flights schedules:
| Flight No. | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Frequency | Plane | Ticket |
| 3U8776 Sichuan Airlines | 15:45 Gonggar Airport | 17:50 Nanjiao Airport | 2h 5m | SMTWTFS | Airbus A319 | 1713 ¥ Economy Class |
| TV9823 Tibet Airlines | 16:30 Gonggar Airport | 18:40 Nanjiao Airport | 2h 10m | SMTWSFS | Airbus A319 | 1683 ¥ Economy Class |
| TV9893 Tibet Airlines 8L9855 Lucky Air | 11:00 Gonggar Airport transfer Kunming | 17:30 Nanjiao Airport | 6h 30m | SM – W – FS | Airbus A319 Boeing 737 | / Economy Class |
| MU5940 Eastern Airlines 9C8596 Spring Airlines | 13:45 Gonggar Airport transfer Kunming | 22:10 Nanjiao Airport | 8h 25m | – – T – T – S | Boeing 737 Airbus A320 | / Economy Class |
Important Notice: 1) Above flight schedules and fares are only for reference; 2) The airlines companies usually will cut down the flight schedules during winter and spring seasons. There may be no daily flight in some months.
Where to Take Flight to Tibet – Mianyang Nanjiao Airport
Mianyang Nanjiao Airport (IATA: MIG; ICAO: ZUMY) serves Mianyang, the second largest city in Sichuan Province. Opened to air traffic in April, 2001, the airport is a new flight hug with modern facilities. It possesses a great location – only 10km from Mianyang city downtown, connected to Chengdu-Mianyang Highway, Mianyang-Guangyuan Highway, Jiuzhaigou Circuit Highway.
Domestic Flights to Mianyang
During its early period, Mianyang Nanjiao Airport only operated flights to nearby cities, such as Kunming, Chongqing, etc. In 2012, many new air lines were put into operation to connect Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Lhasa, Nanjing, Lijiang, Xian, Shijiazhuang, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Sanya, Xining, Guiyang, Lanzhou, Jiuzhaigou, etc., run by many airlines companies, such as Air China, China Southern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Tibet Airlines, etc. (Note: there is no any international flight to Mianyang yet.)
1) Beijing to Mianyang flights: 3 flights per day, 2h 50m duration;
2) Chengdu to Mianyang flights: 4+ flights per day, 1h 50m duration;
3) Shanghai to Mianyang flights: 1 flight per day, 1h 35m duration;
4) Xian to Mianyang flights: 3 flights per day, 1h 30m duration;
5) Lijiang to Mianyang flights: 3 flights per day, 1h 30m duration
6) Lhasa to Mianyang: 2 flights per day, 1h 50m duration;
7) Zhengzhou to Mianyang flights: 2 flights per day, 1h 50m duration;
Transfer to/off Mianyang Nanjiao Airport
Since there are only about 9km to go from downtown Mianyang to the airport, travelers can take the cheap public buses to catch flight. Currently, there are 6 buses running between the airport and downtown. From Mianyang Railway Station or Mianyang Bus Station, you can take Bus No. 79, No. 601, No. 302. It takes about 30minustes~1hour to get to the airport by public buses. You can also take a taxi to the airport which costs around 15~30 CNY only.
