Ali Kunsha Airport, also called Ngari Günsa Airport, , also known as Shiquanhe Airport, is a dual-use military and civil airport serving the town of Shiquanhe in Ngari Prefecture of Tibet region of China.Tibet's fourth civil airport opens It is located in the Günsa Township, roughly 90 km from Shiquanhe. It started operations on 1 July 2010, becoming the fourth civil airport in Tibet after Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Qamdo airports.
Situated at above sea level, Gunsa Airport is the fifth highest airport in the world after Daocheng Yading Airport, Qamdo Bamda Airport, Shigatse Tingri Airport and Garze Kangding Airport.The world's third highest airport opens with milestone Airbus A319 flight 西藏阿里昆莎机场迎来首航 为世界海拔第三高 Gunsa airport has a 4,500-meter runway. It is expected to handle 120,000 passengers by 2020. Construction began in May 2007 and cost an estimated 1.65 billion yuan (241.22 million U.S. dollars).
As Shiquanhe (Ali) is only a one-day bus drive (about 330 km) from the settlement of Darchen situated just north of Lake Manasarovar, facing Mount Kailash,Mayhew and Kohn (2005), p. 209. it is expected to benefit pilgrims to these two sites, which are considered sacred by Hindus,"Pilgrims to benefit from new Tibet Airport near Mt Kailash." Buddhists, Bonpa and Jains.Albinia (2008), p. 288,Gyurme (199), p. 36. With the opening of Shigatse Peace Airport in October 2010, the five airports, coupled with the Qinghai–Tibet railway and a network of roads, are expected to increase tourism to scenic and holy sites in Tibet.
Military buildup Since the last major standoff between China and India at Doklam in 2017 military presence at the Ngari Gunsa Airport has been expanded with Shenyang J-16s and J-11s fighter jets stationed. The airport is 200 kilometres from Pangong Tso, Ladakh.
Airlines and destinations
See also List of airports in China List of the busiest airports in China List of highest airports Ngari Burang Airport
Footnotes
References Albinia, Alice. (2008) Empires of the Indus: The Story of a River. First American Edition (2010) W. W. Norton & Company, New York. . Dorje, Gyurme. (2009) Tibet Handbook. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. . Mayhew, Bradley and Kohn, Michael. (2005) Tibet. 6th Edition. .