Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Chen Qiangwei) news: According to customs at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, the import and export cargo volume at the Urumqi Airport reached 49,000 tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 591.4 percent. The number of inbound and outbound passengers was approximately 685,000, marking an 88 percent increase compared to the previous year. Both the international passenger and cargo transportation volumes at this port have reached a new high in the past five years.

Photo taken on January 7, 2025 shows customs officers at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport conduct supervision on the loading and unloading of imported aircraft in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhao Beijing)

With the resumption and launch of new international passenger and cargo air routes, as well as the continuous optimization of visa policies, the import and export cargo volume and the number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport have continued to increase. In 2024, there were 7,403 inbound and outbound flights at the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, marking a year-on-year increase of 143 percent. The cargo export volume at the port reached 48,000 tons, a year-on-year surge of 626.8 percent. The main exported commodities include clothing, electromechanical products, and other items.

In 2024, Urumqi Diwopu International Airport operated a total of 15 international cargo routes, covering various regions such as Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Europe. Among them, several new cargo routes to Europe were opened. Notably, Urumqi in China added three cargo routes to the United Kingdom, making the UK the second largest trade partner for the Urumqi Airport. This has had a demonstrative effect on the opening of cargo routes to other European countries.

As cargo routes continue to expand, the passenger transportation at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport also witnessed rapid growth in 2024. Serving as a key hub of the Air Silk Road, Urumqi Diwopu International Airport operates over 140 inbound and outbound passenger flights per week, with its route network spanning across multiple regions in Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Europe.

Zhang Chunmei, the deputy head of the Customs Inspection Section IV at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, stated that in 2024, the average daily number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport exceeded 1,800, with a peak daily passenger flow exceeding 3,400 and a maximum of 24 inbound and outbound flights handled in a single day.

To enhance cargo efficiency, the customs at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport has facilitated the optzimiation and upgrading of cross-border e-commerce supervision sites, supported the implementation of bonded aviation fuel bunkering, and achieved information sharing with airlines, freight forwarders and security check departments. These efforts have assisted in expanding international routes and enhanced the airport's international connectivity.

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