Xichang Qingshan Airport

Xichang Qingshan Airport (Chinese: 西昌青山机场) (IATA: XIC, ICAO: ZUXC) is an airport serving Xichang, the capital city of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, China. The airport started an expansion project in February 2010.

Xichang Qingshan Airport (西昌青山机场, IATA: XIC, ICAO: ZUXC) is located in Anning Town, Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, approximately 11.5 kilometers south of downtown Xichang. It is a 4D-level dual-use airport serving both military and civilian flights, and it also functions as a transportation hub for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Situated at an elevation of 1562 meters, it is classified as a high-altitude airport.

History of Xichang Qingshan Airport

• April 1967: Construction of Xichang Guogailiang Airport (西昌锅盖梁机场) officially began.
• May 1, 1975: Xichang Guogailiang Airport was officially opened, and the Xichang Xiaomiao Airport (西昌小庙机场) was decommissioned.
• May 12, 1997: Xichang Guogailiang Airport was renamed Xichang Qingshan Airport.
• June 29, 2011: The new terminal of Xichang Qingshan Airport was opened.

Airport Overview

As of February 2021, Xichang Qingshan Airport’s terminal has an area of 10,000 square meters, with three boarding bridges. The civil aviation apron includes one B-class stand and 18 C-class stands. The runway is 3,600 meters long and 50 meters wide, and the airport can accommodate a yearly passenger throughput of 1.1 million people, cargo and mail throughput of 4,950 tons, and 11,579 aircraft movements annually.

In 2021, Xichang Qingshan Airport handled 1.595 million passengers, a 67.3% increase compared to the previous year, ranking 72nd in the nation. It processed 4,564.8 tons of cargo, up by 35.2%, and saw 17,454 aircraft movements, an increase of 66.9%.

Location of Xichang Qingshan Airport

Xichang Qingshan Airport is located at the following geographic coordinates: Longitude 102°11′ E, Latitude 27°59′ N. The airport is 11.5 km south of Xichang City center, 89.5 km west of Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, 42 km north of Xide County, and 64 km east of Zhaojue County.

Surrounding Areas:

• Xichang (西昌市): 11.5 km south
• Muli Tibetan Autonomous County (木里藏族自治县): 89.5 km west
• Xide County (喜德县): 42 km north
• Zhaojue County (昭觉县): 64 km east

Facilities at Xichang Qingshan Airport

Terminal Facilities:

The terminal building, which opened on June 29, 2011, spans two floors, with a total area of 10,000 square meters and a height of 20.1 meters. It has three boarding bridges and is equipped to meet the needs of 1.1 million passengers per year and 4,950 tons of cargo.

Flight Area:

Xichang Qingshan Airport has a 4D-rated flight area with one B-class stand and 18 C-class stands. The runway (18/36) is 3,600 meters long and 50 meters wide. It also features a parallel taxiway, 18 meters wide, and several connecting taxiways to ensure smooth aircraft operations.

Operational Information:

In the 2022-2023 winter and spring season, Xichang Qingshan Airport hosted 9 airlines operating 43 routes, connecting to 33 cities across China. As of April 2024, the airport has 32 active routes.

Airlines and Destinations

As of 2024, Xichang Qingshan Airport serves the following airlines and destinations:

• Sichuan Airlines (四川航空): Beijing Capital, Taiyuan, Nanjing, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Hefei, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Nanning, Haikou, Chongqing Jiangbei, Chengdu Shuangliu, Chengdu Tianfu, Mianyang, Luzhou, Guangyuan, Guiyang, Linzhi, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, Jinan.
• Air China (中国国际航空): Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Chengdu Shuangliu, Chengdu Tianfu.
• China Southern Airlines (中国南方航空): Guangzhou.
• China Eastern Airlines (中国东方航空): Shanghai Pudong, Ningbo, Zunyi Xinzhu, Kunming.
• Xiamen Airlines (厦门航空): Xiamen, Chongqing Jiangbei.
• Qingdao Airlines (青岛航空): Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Chengdu Tianfu, Daxing, Xishuangbanna.
• Chengdu Airlines (成都航空): Ningbo, Hefei, Chengdu Tianfu, Luzhou, Dazhou, Nanchong, Guiyang.
• Zhejiang Loong Airlines (浙江长龙航空): Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou.
• Colorful Guizhou Airlines (多彩贵州航空): Chongqing Jiangbei, Guiyang.

Special Services at Xichang Qingshan Airport

• Electronic Boarding Passes: Xichang Qingshan Airport has implemented an electronic boarding pass system, allowing passengers to complete identity verification and receive a QR code for boarding, which can be scanned for easy access to security checks.
• Airport Shuttle: The airport shuttle operates from 08:00 AM (from the National Sports Stadium) to 01:30 AM (from the airport).
• Taxi Services: A taxi ride from Xichang Qingshan Airport to downtown Xichang costs around 50 RMB per person.
• Parking: The airport offers 300 parking spaces. Small vehicles are charged 4 RMB per hour, with a daily maximum of 30 RMB.

Expansion Plans

By 2040, Xichang Qingshan Airport plans to expand its facilities to accommodate 3.5 million passengers annually, 15,750 tons of cargo, and 34,273 aircraft movements.

Honors and Achievements

• 2018: Awarded "Best Regional Tourist Airport" for the year 2017 by the Civil Aviation Tourism Professional Committee of the China Tourism Association.

Economic Impact

In 2019, it was estimated that Xichang Qingshan Airport contributed approximately 2.32 billion RMB to China’s economy and created about 4,486 local jobs.

How to Get There

• By Bus: Xichang Qingshan Airport is accessible by airport shuttle buses, with the first bus leaving at 08:00 AM and the last bus at 01:30 AM.
• By Taxi: A taxi ride from Xichang Qingshan Airport to the city center costs approximately 50 RMB.
• By Car: The airport is located 11.5 km south of Xichang City, and it can be easily reached via local roads.

Airlines and destinations