Straight airline from Chengdu to Nyingchi in south Tibet is expected to be launched this May according to Nyingchi Tourism Bureau.

Southwest Branch of China Airways will undertake the flight of this airline. It's expected to reach a capacity of 100,000 people per year of this airline in 2010.

Ticket price will be confirmed between 1,100 to 1,200 yuan (about 137.5 to 150 dollars) sources from related person.

Construction of the Nyingchi Airport started in October 2004 and cost 780 million yuan (96 million US dollars). The airport is located at 2,954 meters above sea level, lower than the other two civil airports in Lhasa and Qamdo.

With an altitude of 4,334 meters, Bangdag Airport in Chamdo which is far away from Lhasa is not so convenient in winter. Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, 3,540 meters above sea level is a busy transport center of tourists. Because of sitting beside the sand beach of Yarlung Zangbo River, flights are always blocked by the sand blown by wind from February to the beginning of April every year.

Nyingchi Prefecture, covering 117,000 square kilometers and bordering India and Myanmar, is known for its humid and mild weather, beautiful landscape and rich natural resources.

About 120 kilometers from the Nyingchi Airport is Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, the world's largest canyon that is often referred to as the last secret land yet to be explored by human beings.

China Tibet Information Center