Tibet's major airport receives 4 million passengers this year

LHASA -- Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, the capital city of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, has received a record 4 million passengers so far this year, local aviation authorities said Monday.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Tibet office, passenger volume at Gonggar Airport, the largest airport in the region, exceeded 2 million in 2013, and 3 million in 2016.

Tibet has seen fast development of its civil aviation industry thanks to the application of new technologies and improved business modes since the country's reform and opening-up four decades ago.

Tibet now has 10 airlines operating a total of 81 routes, enabling convenient connections between Tibet and most of the major cities in China, according to CAAC.

It is estimated that the airport will see 4.3 million passengers by the end of the year.