Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport

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Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (IATA: ERL, ICAO: ZBER) is an airport serving the city of Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. It is located near the town of Saiwusu, 27 km (17 mi) southeast of the city center and 32 km (20 mi) from the Mongolian border. Construction started in June 2008 with a total investment of 257 million yuan, and the airport was opened on 1 April 2010.Due to its proximity to the border the airport attracts a substantial portion of its passengers from Mongolia.

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场, IATA: ERL, ICAO: ZBER) is located in the Saiwusu Technology Park (赛乌苏科技园区) near Erenhot City (二连浩特市) in Xilin Gol League (锡林郭勒盟), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区), China. It is approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Erenhot’s city center and is classified as a level 4C international regional airport.

History

• June 6, 2008: Construction of the airport officially began.

• April 1, 2010: Erenhot Saiwusu Airport (二连浩特赛乌素机场) officially opened.

• July 7, 2018: The new Terminal 2 (International) (T2航站楼) was put into operation.

• December 2024: The airport was renamed to Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场).

• March 11, 2025: The Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) announced the official renaming of the airport.

Airport Facilities

As of April 2020:

• Terminal 1 (T1): The terminal area is 5,043 square meters, with 2 boarding bridges.

• Terminal 2 (T2): The terminal area is 5,949 square meters, with 2 boarding bridges.

• Aircraft Parking: There are 5 C-type aircraft parking stands (C类机位) on the civil aviation apron (民航站坪).

• Runway: The runway is 2,800 meters long and 45 meters wide.

• The airport meets the operational demand for handling 650,000 passengers and 2,500 tons of cargo and mail annually.

2023 Traffic Statistics

• Passenger throughput: 227,323 passengers, a year-on-year increase of 482.0%, ranking 184th in China.

• Cargo throughput: 60.2 tons, a year-on-year increase of 814.9%, ranking 193rd in China.

• Aircraft movements: 4,170 flights, a year-on-year increase of 230.4%, ranking 181st in China.

Airport Specifications

• Location: Near the Saiwusu Technology Park (赛乌苏科技园区), Erenhot City (二连浩特市), Xilin Gol League (锡林郭勒盟), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区), China.

• Elevation: 1,019 meters above sea level.

• Coordinates: Longitude 112°02″E, Latitude 43°34″N.

• Distance:

  • 27 km northwest of Erenhot city center (二连浩特市中心).

  • 138 km northeast of Sunite Zuoqi County (苏尼特左旗县城).

  • 88 km southeast of Sunite Youqi County (苏尼特右旗县城).

  • Approximately 44 km west of the China-Mongolia border (中蒙边界).

Operational Capacity (2024/2025 Winter-Spring Season)

• Terminal Area: 10,952 square meters.

• Aircraft Stands: 5 stands.

• Runway Length: 2,800 meters.

• Flight Routes: 5 routes.

• Served Cities: 7 cities.

• Passenger Throughput: 227,323 passengers.

• Cargo Throughput: 60.2 tons.

• Aircraft Movements: 4,170 flights.

Management

The airport is managed by:

• Inner Mongolia Civil Aviation Airport Management Group Co., Ltd. (内蒙古自治区民航机场管理集团有限责任公司)

• Erenhot Saiwusu Airport Management Co., Ltd. (二连浩特赛乌素机场管理有限公司)

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport Facilities

Terminal Facilities

Terminal 1 (T1)

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport’s Terminal 1 (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场T1航站楼) was inaugurated on April 1, 2010. It serves domestic flights and has a building area of 5,043 square meters. It is equipped with 2 boarding bridges and 3 C-type aircraft parking stands (C类机位), accommodating an annual passenger throughput of up to 550,000.

Terminal 2 (T2)

The international terminal, Terminal 2 (T2航站楼), opened on July 7, 2018. It has a building area of 5,949 square meters and features 2 boarding bridges and 2 C-type aircraft parking stands (C类机位). It can handle 100,000 passengers and 430 tons of cargo and mail annually.

Flight Area

As of April 2020, the airport’s runway is designated as 12/30, with a length of 2,800 meters and a width of 45 meters, constructed with a concrete surface. The airport also has two vertical connection taxiways, each measuring 231 meters long and 23 meters wide.

Operations

Flight Routes and Destinations

For the 2024/2025 Winter-Spring Season, Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场) operates 6 domestic routes, serving 7 cities. New destinations such as Ordos (鄂尔多斯) and Ulanhot (乌兰浩特) have been added to the network, bringing the total number of weekly flights to 128.

Domestic Airlines and Destinations:

• Capital Airlines (JD): Beijing Daxing (北京大兴)

• Huaxia Airlines (G5): Hohhot (呼和浩特), Chifeng (赤峰), Xilinhot (锡林浩特)

• Chengdu Airlines (EU): Ordos (鄂尔多斯), Ulanhot (乌兰浩特)

• Tianjiao Airlines (9D): Hohhot (呼和浩特), Tongliao (通辽)

International Airlines and Destinations:

• Xiongnu Airlines (MR): Ulaanbaatar (乌兰巴托), Mongolia

Manual Check-In

As of February 2025, the manual check-in counter at Terminal 1 closes 30 minutes before the scheduled flight departure.

Passenger Services

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport’s terminals provide a variety of convenient services for passengers, including:

• VIP lounge

• Water purification system

• Mother and baby room

• Designated smoking area

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport Performance Data

Overview of Performance

On December 27, 2019, Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场) saw its annual international passenger throughput exceed 50,000 for the first time.

Annual Traffic Data

Special Services

Self Check-In

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场) offers a self check-in area for passengers without checked baggage. Passengers can complete the check-in process on self-service machines and obtain their electronic boarding pass. The process is as follows:

1. Click the “Enter” button on the homepage.

2. Enter your valid identification number and personal information in the relevant fields. Chinese citizens can scan their second-generation ID card (二代身份证) or passport directly on the self-check-in machine.

3. After entering your details, flight information will appear on the screen. Click “Confirm” to proceed to the seat selection interface, where available seats will be displayed in white. Choose your preferred seat and click “Next” to print your boarding pass.

4. After seat selection, frequent flyers can return to the previous page and manually enter their frequent flyer card number for points accumulation.

5. Passengers who have not printed their electronic ticket itinerary can click the “Print Itinerary” button on the interface to print it.

Self Security Check

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport has introduced a self-service security check. The process is as follows:

1. Scan your valid booking documents and pass through the first gate.

2. After successful facial recognition, proceed through the second gate without showing your boarding pass.

Transfer Service

Passengers transferring via Hohhot Baita International Airport (呼和浩特白塔国际机场) from Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport can enjoy the “Hohhot Transfer Without Worries Service,” which includes the following services:

1. Six Exemptions: No need for secondary security checks, no need to re-check luggage, free meals for same-day transfer passengers, free overnight accommodation for passengers with overnight transfers, free airport shuttle service, and access to exclusive rest areas.

2. Five Benefits: Discounted transfer tickets, discounted shopping, discounted meals, discounted use of first-class lounges, and discounted car rentals.

3. Two Guarantees: Guaranteed fast connections for short transfer times and full guidance throughout the transfer process.

International Transfer Service

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport has introduced an international transfer service linking Hohhot (呼和浩特) to Mongolia via Erenhot (二连浩特), offering the following policies:

1. Hohhot – Erenhot – Ulaanbaatar (乌兰巴托): Passengers can apply for a one-way transfer ticket between Hohhot and Erenhot for 200 RMB if they hold a ticket for the Erenhot-Ulaanbaatar leg and apply 3 days in advance.

2. Ulaanbaatar – Erenhot – Beijing Daxing (北京大兴): Passengers with an Erenhot-Ulaanbaatar ticket can apply for a one-way transfer ticket between Erenhot and Beijing Daxing for 230 RMB (excluding tax) if they apply 3 days in advance.

Transportation Connections

Airport Bus

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport provides a free airport shuttle bus that departs from the Erenhot City Terminal (二连浩特机场城市候机楼), passing by the Qinglv Aviation Ticketing (青旅航空售票) and Kaijie Aviation Ticketing (凯捷航空售票) before arriving at the airport terminal.

Self-Driving

To reach Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport (二连浩特赛乌素国际机场) from Erenhot City (二连浩特市), take the G208 Erguang Highway (G208二广公路) and enter Airport Road (机场路) at the Erenhot Toll Station (二连浩特收费站) to reach the airport terminal.

Strategic Importance

Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport is an integral part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路) and the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor (中蒙俄经济走廊). The airport’s air port is a vital component of the Erenhot Port (二连浩特口岸) and plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade and travel.

Erenhot Air Port of Entry

Overview

The Erenhot Air Port of Entry (二连浩特航空口岸) is the 6th officially open air port in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区). It was officially opened on October 16, 2024, following national inspection. On July 10, 2025, the port will fully open and commence the Erenhot (二连浩特) to Ulaanbaatar (乌兰巴托) international flight route. This port is part of a comprehensive tri-modal transportation network that connects Mongolia (蒙古) and Russia (俄罗斯) through air, rail, and road routes, strengthening internal and external transportation links.

History of Development

Official Opening and Previous Operations

On October 16, 2024, the Erenhot Air Port of Entry passed national inspection and officially opened, making it the 6th open air port in Inner Mongolia. Since 2013, the port had been temporarily open for 7 consecutive years, during which time international flight routes were opened to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (乌兰巴托), Ulan-Ude, Russia (乌兰乌德), and Irkutsk, Russia (伊尔库兹克). Over this period, a total of 2,342 international flights took off and landed, serving more than 134,276 passengers.

On July 10, 2025, the Erenhot to Ulaanbaatar international route will officially open, marking the end of the temporary operation phase for the air port.

Infrastructure and Future Plans

The airport’s expansion and renovation project began in 2014 with approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民用航空局), designed to handle an annual passenger throughput of 650,000. By 2025, a daily round-trip flight, MR861/MR862, will operate, completing the comprehensive air-rail-public transport structure.

Strategic Value

The official opening of the Erenhot Air Port of Entry (二连浩特航空口岸) will significantly enhance the transportation network by connecting it with the Erenhot Road Port (二连浩特公路口岸) and the Erenhot Railway Port (二连浩特铁路口岸), forming an integrated tri-modal transportation network linking Mongolia and Russia. This will contribute to the high-quality development and high-level opening-up of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区), further enhancing economic and trade connections with neighboring regions.