Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport 西安咸阳国际机场 Xī'ān Xiányáng Guójì Jīchǎng
IATA: XIY – ICAO: ZLXY
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		XXIA
Serves		Xi'an
Location		Weicheng District, Xianyang, Shaanxi
Hub for		China Eastern Airlines
Elevation AMSL		479 m / 1,572 ft
Coordinates		34°26′49″N 108°45′05″E
Map
XIY Location of airport in China
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
05/23	3,000	9,843	Concrete
Statistics (2010)
Passengers			18,010,405
Source: China's busiest airports by passenger traffic

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (Chinese: 西安咸阳国际机场) (IATA: XIY, ICAO: ZLXY) is the main airport serving Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, China. Covering 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi), it is the largest airport in China's northwest. The airport was the hub for China Northwest Airlines until the company was merged into China Eastern Airlines in 2002. Currently, the airport connects to 79 other cities domestically and internationally.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, the airport handled 18,010,405 passengers, making it the busiest airport in northwest China and the 8th busiest nationwide. Xi'an Xianyang International Airport was also the 14th busiest airport in terms of cargo traffic and the 9th busiest airport by traffic movements. The airport is currently undergoing a major expansion with a new terminal as well as a second runway.

The airport is actually within the administrative area of Xianyang City, which gives the airport its name.

History

Before Xianyang Airport was built, Xi'an was served by Xi'an Xiguan Airport (IATA: SIA, ICAO: ZLSN). In 1984, the State Council of the People's Republic of China and Central Military Commission proposed to build a large civil-use airport on the site of Xianyang's airfield. Phase 1 of the airport commenced construction on August 1987, and was finished and opened on September 1, 1991. Xi'an Xiguan Airport closed at the same time. Phase 2 started in August 2000, and was finished on September 16, 2003. Also, in 2007, the airport signed an agreement to do trading with Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, creating the "Air silk road." Another RMB7.592 billion invested project is scheduled to be established by 2020.

During World War II, the airport was known as Hsian Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). The Americans used the airport primarily as a photo-reconnaissance airfield, with unarmed P-38 Lightnings, equipped with aerial cameras flew over Japanese-held territory providing intelligence to the Chinese ground forces. In addition, P-61 Black Widow night interceptor aircraft flew from the airport, providing defense against night bombing raids by the Japanese, along with P-47 Thunderbolts day fighters and C-47 Skytrain transports flying in supplies and ammunition to support friendly forces in the area. The Americans closed their facilities at the airport after the end of the war in September 1945.

Expansion

As of 2010, the airport is undergoing major expansion. A third 170,000-square-meter terminal building is being built along with a second 3,800-meter runway and related support facilities. After expansion, the airport will reach 26 million passengers annually, and will become the fourth Chinese airport with independent parallel operation of instrument runways.

Airlines and destinations

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Domestic Departure Lounge

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Airlines	Destinations	Terminal
Air China	Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Guilin, Hangzhou, Shanghai-Pudong, Urumqi, Yinchuan	2
Asiana Airlines	Seoul-Incheon	2
Beijing Capital Airlines	Dunhuang, Hangzhou, Sanya, Ürümqi	2
China Airlines	Taipei-Taoyuan	2
China Eastern Airlines	Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dayong, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Lanzhou, Lhasa, Nagoya-Centrair, Nanchang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Sanya, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Singapore, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita, Urumqi, Wuxi, Xining, Yinchuan, Yulin	2
China Southern Airlines	Changsha, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Jinan, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Urumqi, Wuhan, Xining, Yinchuan, Yiwu	1
Hainan Airlines	Beijing-Capital, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Taipei-Taoyuan, Urumqi, Wuhai, Wuhan, Xiamen, Yinchuan	2
Joy Air	Beijing-Capital, Guangzhou, Shanghai-Pudong Seasonal: Busan, Seoul-Gimpo, Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita	2
Juneyao Airlines	Shanghai-Hongqiao	2
Korean Air	Seoul-Incheon	2
Lucky Air	Kunming, Urumqi	2
Shandong Airlines	Jinan, Osaka-Kansai	2
Shanghai Airlines	Jiayuguan, Lanzhou, Shanghai-Pudong, Taiyuan [begins 31 October], Xining, Yantai [begins 31 October]	2
Shenzhen Airlines	Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Xining, Yinchuan	2
Sichuan Airlines	Chengdu	1
Spring Airlines	Shanghai-Pudong, Shenyang	2
Xiamen Airlines	Changsha, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuyishan, Yinchuan	1

Transportation

Figures along the Airport Express highway leading to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

The airport is 47 kilometres (29 mi) northwest of Xi'an city centre, and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of the city of Xianyang. Buses and taxis are available between the airport and Xi'an city centre.

Accidents and Incidents

• On June 6, 1994, China Northwest Airlines Flight 2303 broke up in mid-air and crashed near Xi'an, enroute to Guangzhou from Xian. A maintenance error was responsible. All 160 people on board died.

See also

• List of airports in the People's Republic of China

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

• (Chinese) Shaanxi Airport Management Corporation
• Current weather for ZLXY at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for XIY / ZLXY at Aviation Safety Network