Lhasa Gonggar Airport, Tibet Gateway Airport
Location: Lhasa Gonggar Airport is located in Gonggar County, Shannan Region, Tibet, about 65 kilometers via the new Lhasa-Airport Highway. It is to the southeast of Lhasa city, the sunshine city and capital city of Tibet. The airport is beside the south bank of the grand Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River.
Brief information: Airport Code: LXA
Lhasa Gonggar Airport is one of the civil airports with the highest altitude (about 11,811 feet) in the world. As Damxung Airport was completed in 1956, Tibet, former forbidden zone for airway, was opened to the world. In 1965, Lhasa terminal station was established and Beijing – Chengdu – Lhasa flight first unveiled the mysterious 'third pole of the earth'.
It has a 4,000-meter (about 4,374 yards) long airstrip, being the longest runway in China, which can handle many large types of big aircrafts landing and taking-off. After the renovation finished in 2004, newly expanded parking apron allows five A340 or seven Boeing 757 aircrafts. Domestic airlines using Lhasa Gonggar Airport can operate flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, Diqing and Chamdo Region. One international airline connects Katmandu Nepal and Lhasa. There are more than 15 flights a day and 100 flights a week since 2010. In 2014 tour season, there are about 30 daily flights between Lhasa and other cities in China. Travel to Tibet can be easier than ever before.
Facilities
The total area (containing old and new terminal building) reaches 25,000 square meters (about 6.2 acres). The hall for seeing off passengers is in the first floor of the new terminal building, together with the ticket office, office of baggage and departure lounge for long haul flights. Departure lounge and shops can be found in the second floor. Four loading bridge will lead passengers here to their airplane. Tibet Airports Photos for travellers references, please click that link ahead.
Transportation to Urban Lhasa
Once there is a flight, there will be shuttle buses waiting in the airport. Thanks for the bridge and tunnel construction on the way from Gonggar airport to Lhasa city. It only takes 40 to 60 minutes to shuttle between them. Read more about Tibet airports.
