In early March 1965, with the official opening of the Beijing-Chengdu-Lhasa route, the aviation dream of the Tibetan people was realized.
The Tibet Autonomous Region is a vast area, and over the past 50 years, from Linzhi, the "Snowy South" to Ali, the "Roof of the World", and from Chamdo, the "Pearl of Eastern Tibet" to the "Breadbasket of the Plateau", Tibet has become the only means of transportation to and from the mainland. "Plateau Breadbasket" Rikaze, five plateau airports connecting the world's "Golden Bridge in the air", the morning in the Potala Palace to see the sunrise, the afternoon in Chengdu to eat hot pot has become a reality.
Nowadays, aviation has become one of the most important modes of transportation in Tibet, which is especially prominent in the Ali region. Because of the long distance, in the past, people living in Ali once a sudden serious illness, in the local can not be treated in the case, it is difficult to send to a better hospital for timely treatment.
The opening of Ali Kunsha Airport has changed this situation, from Ali to Lhasa more than 20 hours of driving, the plane can reach in 2 hours.
On March 9, 2021, a passenger with a baby in his arms came to the ticket counter of Ali Kunsha Airport to buy a ticket to Lhasa on the same day. The baby was seriously ill, diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and acute septic meningitis by a local hospital, and urgently needed to travel to a city with better medical conditions for treatment. The airport emergency coordination to let the patient on the plane, but also provide a full oxygen service.
Ali Terminal Ground Services Department doctor Deqing Wangmu introduced, this is not the first time the airport to protect the sick passengers out of Hong Kong. Over the years, Ali Kunsha Airport has guaranteed the timely departure of more than 50 critically ill and seriously ill travelers, which has bought precious time for saving lives.
Linzhi City in the Tibet Autonomous Region has an average altitude of 3,000 meters and beautiful scenery. The turquoise Niyang River water flows slowly, mirroring the blue sky and white clouds, snow-capped mountains and glaciers, attracting countless tourists.
"Lhasa to Linzhi railroad has not yet opened, by car and too tired, or the plane is convenient, the Namcha Barwa Peak from Linzhi airport is also very close, we strolled back from Linzhi." Shanghai tourists Ms. Wang said, this is the first time this year's trip, out before the carefully designed itinerary.
According to reports, Linzhi Miling Airport is the second largest airport in the Tibet Autonomous Region, *** there are five airlines flying, navigable cities 8. During the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, the cumulative number of tourists in Linzhi City exceeded 32 million, and tourism revenue exceeded 24 billion yuan.
36-year-old Chamdo businessman Tseda no longer have to count the turns one after another. Once, the sub-da from Mangkang County to Lhasa need to drive for two days, the road to more than 10 mountains, more than 100 bends. "Driving to drive all dizzy, but also delayed the time to do business." Tseda said.
At the end of 2020, Tibet Airlines launched a 50% discount air ticket from Lhasa to Ali and Chamdo for local residents, which allowed businessmen like Tsedar to enjoy the benefits. "Taking an airplane is calculated to be cheaper than driving, but also convenient and safe, now I can take a good look at the goods in Lhasa and talk business with others." Sub-da said.
Data show that the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, the Tibet civil aviation new routes 67, the new navigation city 21, 5 years of the number of new routes more than the previous 50 years of the sum, the cumulative total of more than 24.8 million passenger throughput, compared with the "12th Five-Year Plan" period, an increase of 83%. "The company's main goal is to provide the best possible service to its customers.
Not only travel, Tibet opened more and more routes, air cargo for the development of Tibet's advantageous resources to provide an efficient channel out of Tibet, help Tibetan specialties "go out"; medical supplies, vegetables and fruits, seafood and other goods, but also by the mainland quickly into the Tibetan market.
"The most happy is the speed of the express fast, the past land transportation to ten days, now take the air a few days to." Ali resident Sonam Dorjee said happily.
In April this year, the National Development and Reform Commission approved the new Tibet Longzi, Tingri, Pulan and other three airports and Lhasa airport second runway reconstruction and expansion project (referred to as the Tibet "3 +1" airport project), the total investment of the project more than 13.6 billion yuan.
The implementation of the Tibet "3+1" airport project is of great significance in improving the comprehensive transportation system in Tibet, improving the external transportation conditions in the border areas, meeting the travel needs of the local people, enhancing the emergency rescue and relief capabilities, and promoting the regional economic and social development.
The route network layout is constantly improving, airport facilities and equipment are constantly being updated, and self-service check-in systems, paperless customs clearance systems, and one-stop terminals for temporary air travel certificates are being put into use, so that people from all over the plateau can be more closely connected through the "air corridor", making "distant" no longer "distant". "The first time I saw this, it was a very good idea.
Poster shooting: Jinmei Dorji, Zhang Rufeng, Tian Jinwen
Poster production: Zhang Chen, Tenzin Nubu