Ali Kunsha Airport, also called Ngari Günsa Airport, (IATA: NGQ, ICAO: ZUAL), also known as Shiquanhe Airport is a dual-use military and civil airport serving the town of Shiquanhe in Ngari Prefecture, between Gar Chongsar and Sogmai, Günsa Township, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. It started operations on 1 July 2010, becoming the fourth civil airport in Tibet after Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Qamdo airports.[2]
Ali Kunsha Airport 阿里昆莎机场 | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military/Public | ||||||||||
Serves | Shiquanhe | ||||||||||
Location | Gar Chongsar, Günsa Township, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 4,274 m / 14,022 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 32°06′31″N 80°03′10″E / 32.10861°N 80.05278°E | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (2021) | |||||||||||
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Source:[1] |
Ngari Gunsa Airport | |||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 阿里昆莎机场 | ||||||
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Situated at 4,274 m (14,022 ft) above sea level, Gunsa Airport is the fourth highest airport in the world after Daocheng Yading Airport, Qamdo Bamda Airport, and Kangding Airport.[3][4] Gunsa airport has a 4,500-meter runway. It is expected to handle 120,000 passengers by 2020. Construction began in May 2007 and cost an estimated 1.65 billion yuan (241.22 million U.S. dollars).[2]
As Shiquanhe (Ali) is only a one-day bus drive (about 330 km) from the settlement of Darchen situated just north of Lake Manasarovar, facing Mount Kailash,[5] it is expected to benefit pilgrims to these two sites, which are considered sacred by Hindus,[6] Buddhists, Bonpa and Jains.[7][8] With the opening of Shigatse Peace Airport in October 2010, the five airports, coupled with the Qinghai–Tibet railway and a network of roads, are expected to increase tourism to scenic and holy sites in Tibet.[6]
Military buildup
Since the last major standoff between China and India at Doklam in 2017 military presence at the Ngari Gunsa Airport has been expanded with Shenyang J-16s and J-11s fighter jets stationed. The airport is 200 kilometres from Pangong Tso, Ladakh.[9][10]
Airlines and destinations
Airlines | Destinations |
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China Eastern Airlines | Kashgar, Xi'an |
Lucky Air | Kashgar, Ürümqi |
Tibet Airlines | Lhasa |
See also
Footnotes
References
- Albinia, Alice. (2008) Empires of the Indus: The Story of a River. First American Edition (2010) W. W. Norton & Company, New York. ISBN 978-0-393-33860-7.
- Dorje, Gyurme. (2009) Tibet Handbook. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. ISBN 978-1-906098-32-2.
- Mayhew, Bradley and Kohn, Michael. (2005) Tibet. 6th Edition. ISBN 1-74059-523-8.