First super-high plateau airport in China's Xinjiang begins test flights

(ECNS) -- Field test flights have begun at Taxkorgan Airport, with the first Airbus A319-115 touching down on Pamir Plateau, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

Taxkorgan Airport covers 230.4 hectares and is 3,252 meters above sea level, making it one of China's highest airports and the first super high-plateau airport in Xinjiang.

Internationally, airports with elevations above 2,438 meters are called super high-plateau airports.

The Taxkorgan Airport is expected to open in July 2022. It will have a handling capacity of 160,000 passengers and 400 metric tons of cargo per year.