🇨🇳 Ali Pulan Airport

Ali Pulan Airport (IATA: APJ, ICAO: ZUPL), also known as Ngari Burang Airport, is a dual-use military-civilian airport located in Burang County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is situated at an elevation of 4,250 meters (13,940 feet), approximately 12 kilometers from Burang Town.

Notable Features and History:

• The airport is among the highest civil airports in the world.
• Its construction was approved in April 2021, following site selection in Rengong Village in 2016 and its inclusion in a national aid program for Tibet in 2018.
• The airport officially opened on December 27, 2023, with the inaugural flight operated by Air China (Lhasa-Pulan-Chengdu). This marked the second branch airport in the Ali region, filling a gap in air transport for Burang County.
• It is strategically located along China's southwestern border.
• In February 2025, the airport successfully managed operations during a heavy snowfall, and by March 5, 2025, it had served over 1,000 passengers. By September 8, 2025, passenger throughput exceeded 8,000.

Current Status:

• Ali Pulan Airport is designed to handle 150,000 passengers and 600 tons of cargo annually.
• As of late 2023 and early 2024, Tibet Airlines is the sole operator, offering flights to Lhasa.
• The airport's services have expanded to include a "convenient border defense certificate" service within the terminal and "interline baggage through-check" service by Tibet Airlines.
• The airport operates with one paved runway, measuring 4,500 meters (14,764 feet).

*Sources researched: al.gov.cn, en.wikipedia.org, freight-academy.com, gcmap.com*