Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, nestled in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, set new records in 2025, serving over 1.1 million inbound and outbound passengers and handling 14,000 international & regional flights 🚀✈️. This historic leap cements its role as a key hub in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Here’s the lowdown on last year’s highlights:
- 3 new international passenger & cargo routes launched
- Network spans 25 cities across 17 countries and regions, from Kazakhstan to the UAE and Türkiye
- Flights to Central Asia made up nearly 42% of all international traffic
These expanded routes highlight Xinjiang’s core position in the China–Central Asia air corridor.
Peng Hongyi from the Urumqi Entry-Exit Frontier Inspection Station reports a 62% jump in passenger trips year-over-year and an 82% rise in international flights inspected. With visa-free policies for Uzbekistan, Russia, and more, passenger flow and flight volume soared 🌏.
On any given week, Urumqi averages 270 international flights—with single-day passenger peaks hitting 5,000—solidifying its status as a premier gateway for global travelers.
Travellers are loving it! Mamadova Rusanna, an international student, shared that “Chinese border inspection staff were exceptionally friendly and super helpful.” Chinese tourist Liu Ruixue added that the airport is more convenient than ever, and she can’t wait to explore new destinations in 2026.
Looking ahead to 2026, expect even more routes, streamlined visa-free travel, and deeper people-to-people ties along the Belt and Road. Urumqi Tianshan Airport isn’t just moving passengers—it’s fueling a new era of shared dreams across Asia and beyond 🌟.
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Urumqi Tianshan Airport serves over 1.1 mln passengers in 2025
cgtn.com
