18 air routes opened to, from Xinjiang-TIANSHANNET-天山网

Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has been a major international flight hub in China, connecting the country with central, western and southern Asia. [Photo by Li Jie for chinadaily.com.cn]

Seven airlines in China will open 18 air routes to provide services for travel to and from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region starting from July.

The civil aviation bureau of Xinjiang approved and issued business licenses for companies planning to open regular flights in Xinjiang, including China Southern Airlines, Urumqi Airlines and Huaxia Airlines.

According to the bureau, the license becomes effective immediately after being approved and issued by the bureau or administration, and it is valid for three years or on a date notified by the regional bureau of CAAC.

The bureau said before new 18 air routes were approved, 220 air routes have been operating in Xinjiang by the end of May.

China Southern Airlines will open a Urumqi-Zhengzhou flight linking the two capital cities of Xinjiang and Henan province, a Urumqi-Zhengzhou-Xiamen flight, extending a flight to the southern coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province, and the Urumqi-Kurla-Hotan flight, which will provide service for visits inside of Xinjiang.

Other routes, such as two regular flights opened by Urumqi Airlines — the Urumqi-Lanzhou-Hangzhou linking the three capital cities of Xinjiang, Gansu and Zhejiang provinces, and the Urumqi-Yueyang-Zhuhai flight connecting the three aviation hubs in Xinjiang, Hunan and Guangdong provinces — creates an air link between coastal cities in southeastern China and inland Xinjiang.

Information on all 18 air routes can be found on the official website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Terminal Three of Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has been in use since March 27, 2010. [Photo by Li Jie for chinadaily.com.cn]