Luntai Airport becomes Xinjiang's newest civil transport hub

The Bayingolin Luntai Airport in Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has recently been issued an operating license, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Xinjiang Regional Administration.

The approval confirms that all construction, testing, and support work at the airport have met operational standards for civil aviation, making it Xinjiang's 29th civil transport airport to enter service. Local media reported that the new airport is scheduled to see its first flight on Friday.

Luntai Airport was a key 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) construction project for the CAAC and Xinjiang. It is the autonomous region's first newly built airport to become operational during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).

According to Xinjiang Airport Group, the airport is located in Caohu township, about 21 kilometers south of the Luntai county seat. Construction began in August 2024, with a total investment of 707 million yuan ($104.3 million). Design targets project that the airport is expected to handle 300,000 passenger trips and 600 metric tons of cargo and mail annually by 2030, significantly improving the county's external transportation connectivity.

Flight routes have been planned to cities such as Urumqi, Kashgar, and Altay within Xinjiang, as well as to major domestic destinations including Beijing and Chengdu.