Rendering of the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport expansion project.
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is aiming to extend its network to destinations in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Most international flights out of XIY are to regional destinations in Southeast and North Asia, but business manager for international market development Jason Zhao told Routes the airport plans to broaden its horizons. He said a key target is to launch flights to Turkey within the year.
He explained that XIY’s international passenger movements are still at about 19.6% of 2019 levels. Compared to major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Xi’an locals have a lower propensity to travel due to economic constraints, Zhao said. Airlines are also still reluctant to resume flights to the city for that reason, as well as a lack of business premium travel to the city.
XIY is now in phase three of its multiyear expansion project, and due to the pandemic, completion has been accelerated from 2026 to the end of 2024. The project will increase the airport’s passenger handling capacity to 80 million passengers annually in two terminals, comparable to Beijing Daxing (PKX) and the largest in west China.
Zhao added that compared to major airport hubs like the big four cities, or even the cargo hub in Zhengzhou, Xi’an has the advantage of a strong cultural and tourism background. As the starting point of the Silk Road, the city and airport can benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative, which focuses on Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, he said.
In mid-2023, Xi’an opened air routes to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, making it the first airport in China to have connections with all five central Asia countries.
Related Content
