The world's
second highest airport, Kangding, opened on Wednesday in a
predominantly Tibetan region of southwest China's Sichuan
Province.
At an
altitude of 4,280 meters, it is second only to Qamdo in Tibet
Autonomous Region which sits 4,334 meters above sea level.
The airport
allowed for a 35-minute trip from Kangding, capital of the
Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, to Chengdu, the
provincial capital, compared with a six-hour road journey, said
Kangding Airport Co., Ltd. general manager Fan Yongzheng.
A China
Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-700 from Kunming, capital of Yunnan
Province, traveling via Chengdu, was the first flight to land at
the airport on Wednesday morning.
Other
scheduled flights were yet to be determined, Fan said.
Sitting
between the Dadu and Yalong rivers, both tributaries of the
Yangtze, Kangding is a popular tourist destination.
"We are
building highways connecting the airport to the main tourist
attractions in Garze," said Hu Bin, vice head of the
Garzeprefecture.
"On
completion, tourists will be able to arrive at the scenic spots
within two hours."
Construction
of the airport, 40 kilometers from Kangding town, started in
September 2006. The 4,000-meter runway is designed to meet the
demands of A319 and Boeing 737-300 aircraft. It is expected to
handle 330,000 passengers and 1,980 tons of cargo and mail
annually. (Xinhua News Oct. 22, 2008).
