Aksu Yituan Airport

The airport was closed because it was replaced by the new, larger Aksu Hongqipo Airport. The original airport's location, being very close to the expanding city center, severely limited its potential for runway extension and facility upgrades needed to accommodate larger aircraft and growing passenger traffic. Urban encroachment also created increasing concerns about flight safety and noise pollution, prompting the construction of a new facility at a more suitable location farther from the city.

The site of the former airport has been completely decommissioned and absorbed into the urban fabric of Aksu. While the faint outline of the old runway is still visible in satellite imagery, the land has been extensively redeveloped. The area is now occupied by a mix of residential complexes, commercial properties, and new roads. A significant portion of the old runway and tarmac is currently used as a large vehicle driving school and test center.

Originally constructed in 1966, Aksu Yituan Airport was a dual-use civil and military airfield. Its name, 'Yituan' (一团), translates to 'First Regiment,' indicating its strong historical connection to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). It served as a critical transportation and logistics hub for the XPCC's First Agricultural Division. For several decades, it was the primary airport for the Aksu Prefecture, handling regional passenger and cargo flights that were vital for the economic development, connectivity, and administrative support of this remote region in Xinjiang.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Aksu Yituan Airport. The region is now well-served by the modern and expanding Aksu Hongqipo Airport. The land of the former airport has been permanently repurposed for urban development, making any return to aviation operations both physically impossible and strategically unnecessary.