Xining Lhasa Flights

Air Line Information

Most travelers choose Xining as the gateway to take a train to Tibet because it is the starting city of the world highest railway in the world Qinghai Tibet Railway. Actually it is also very convenient to go to Tibet by air from. It takes only about 2.5 hours for the flight trip. At the same time, the fares are cheaper. Currently there are 2~3 daily direct flights to Lhasa each day from Xining.

Distance: 968miles (1558km)

Flying Duration: about 2.5~7 hours

Major Airlines: Tibet Airlines, Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines

Frequency: around 5 flights per day

Flight Type: Direct + Connecting flights

Ticket Full Price: 1850 CNY (economy class)

Why Take Flight to Lhasa from Xining

1. Compared with other top cities like Bejing, Guangzhou, Xian and Shanghai, Xining offers an inexpensive air travel with shorter flying duration. The full price of the economy class flight is only about 1850 CNY while the same class flight from Shanghai to Lhasa will cost around 3360 CNY. It also only takes about 2.5 hours to get to Lhasa from Xining. While Shanghai to Lhasa flight costs more than 6 hours.
2. Xining is a perfect backup plan when you fail to obtain a flight ticket from Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guangzhou to Lhasa because it is easier to book Xining Lhasa flights as the demands are not very high even during peak seasons. Xining is also a great backup plan for train travel to Tibet. As you know, the soft sleepers on Tibet trains are limited, and sell out very quickly. If you are not able to book a train ticket to Lhasa, you can choose to take flight.
3. Xining is well connected to other cities in China, such as Xian, Beijing, Chengdu, Dunhuang, etc. You can definitely travel from these cities to Xining for a short break, then take a flight to Tibet from Xining.
4. Xining itself is an amazing tourist destination which is full of unique experience. The picturesque Qinghai Lake is only about 2.5 hours’ driving from Xining City. From Xining, you can also travel to the charming Amdo Tibetan Region.

Xining Lhasa Flights Schedules, Airlines and Fares

There are many flights you can take to transfer between Lhasa and Xining every day, including 4 or 6 direct flights and several other connecting flights. The direct flights usually fly directly between Xining Caojiabao Airport and Lhasa Gonggar Airport, and cost only about 2.5 hours. While the connecting flights offer more schedules and relatively cheaper prices, but cost longer time usually around 6~9 hours. Please note that the flight schedules will be cut down during winter and spring seasons.

Xining to Lhasa Flights Timetable
There are now about 2 or 3 direct flights and 2 or more connecting flights to Lhasa from Xining each day. The connecting flights usually make stopovers at Xian, Chengdu, Mianyang. Check out following latest updated Xining to Lhasa flights schedules:

Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration	Frequency	Plane	Ticket
3U8687 Sichuan Airlines	10:05 Caojiabao Airport T2	12:20 Gonggar Airport	2h 15m	SMTWTFS	Airbus A319	1823 ¥ Economy Class
TV9842 Tibet Airlines	13:25 Caojiabao Airport T2	15:40 Gonggar Airport	2h 15m	SMTWTFS	Airbus A319	1688 ¥ Economy Class
3U8718 Sichuan Airlines TV9824 Tibet Airlines	13:30 Caojiabao Airport T2 transfer Mianyang	21:40 Gonggar Airport	8h 10m	S – – W – – S	Airbus A320 Airbus A319	/ Economy Class
CZ3214 South Airlines TV9884 Tibet Airlines	14:30 Caojiabao Airport T2 transfer Xian	23:45 Gonggar Airport	9h 15m	– – – W – F –	Airbus A320 Airbus A319	/ Economy Class
TV9896 Tibet Airlines TV9882 Tibet Airlines	15:15 Caojiabao Airport T2 transfer Chengdu	21:20 Gonggar Airport	6h 5m	S – – W – F –	Airbus A319 Airbus A330	/ Economy Class
3U8688 Sichuan Airlines TV9884 Tibet Airlines	16:45 Caojiabao Airport T2 transfer Xian	23:45 Gonggar Airport	7h	SMTWTFS	Airbus A319 Airbus A319	/ Economy Class

Lhasa to Xining Flights Timetable, Airlines and Fares
There are usually 3~5 flights departing from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to Xining Caojiabao Airport each day with a duration between 2h 30m ~ 9h 5m. Two or three of the flights are direct flights. The rest are connecting flights which make stopovers at Chengdu, Yushu, Xian, etc. Check out following latest updated Lhasa to Xining flights schedules:

Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Duration	Frequency	Plane	Ticket
3U8688 Sichuan Airlines	13:20 Gonggar Airport	15:40 Caojiabao Airport T2	2h 20m	SMTWTFS	Airbus A319	1823 ¥ Economy Class
TV9841 Tibet Airlines	13:50 Gonggar Airport	15:55 Caojiabao Airport T2	2h 5m	SMTWTFS	Airbus A319	1792 ¥ Economy Class
TV9881 Tibet Airlines EU2281 Chengdu Airlines	07:05 Gonggar Airport transfer Chengdu	13:35 Caojiabao Airport	6h 30m	SM – W – F –	Airbus A330 Airbus A319	/ Economy Class
TV9881 Tibet Airlines TV9817 Tibet Airlines	07:05 Gonggar Airport transfer Chengdu	14:15 Caojiabao Airport T2	7h 10m	– – T – T – S	Airbus A3209 Airbus A320	/ Economy Class
3U8658 Sichuan Airlines MU2225 Eastern Airlines	09:20 Gonggar Airport transfer Chengdu	18:25 Caojiabao Airport	9h 5m	– M – W – F –	Airbus A330 Airbus A320	/ Economy Class
3U8658 Sichuan Airlines CA460 Air China	09:20 Gonggar Airport transfer Chengdu	16:40 Caojiabao Airport	7h 20m	S – T – T – S	Airbus A330 Airbus A320	/ Economy Class
MU5282 Eastern Airlines MU2314 Eastern Airlines	11:20 Gonggar Airport transfer Yushu	17:25 Caojiabao Airport	6h 5m	SM – W – F –	Airbus A319 Airbus A319	/ Economy Class
MU2334 Eastern Airlines MU2385 Eastern Airlines	12:15 Gonggar Airport transfer Xian	19:20 Caojiabao Airport	7h 5m	S – – – – – –	Airbus A319 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 – Xining Caojiabao Airport

Xining Caojiabao Airport (ICAO：ZLXN；IATA：XNN – 西宁曹家堡机场) is located in Gaozhai Township, Huzhu County, Qinghai Province, at the elevation of 2,184 meters. It is about 28km away from Xining City. It is one of the most important flight hubs in northwestern China. So far, Xining Caojiabao Airport has operated over 52 air lines to more than 39 major cities in China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Xian, Lhasa, etc. Currently there is no any international flight connected with Xining.

1) Beijing to Xining flights: 7+ flights per day, 2h 45m duration;
2) Chengdu to Xining flights: 4+ flights per day, 1h 50m duration;
3) Shanghai to Xining flights: 1 flight per day, 3h 25m duration;
4) Xian to Xining flights: 16+ flights per day, 1h 35m duration;
5) Zhengzhou to Xining flights: 4+ flights per day, 2h 10m duration;

Transfer to/off Xining Caojiabao Airport

Taxi and shuttle bus are two only transfer ways between Xining Caojiabao Airport and Xining downtown areas. There are two bus routes: airport to Bayi Rd Bus Station(Xining Railway Staion is along the route), airport to Qinghai Hotel. It costs only about 25 CNY. The shuttle bus takes about 40 minutes to get to the city center. The taxi usually costs around 100 CNY, and about 20 minutes to the downtown.