Gonggar Air Base (贡嘎 Lhasa Gonggar Airport)

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, also known as Lhasa Konggar International Airport, serves Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is located approximately 97 kilometers (60 miles) from Lhasa and 62 kilometers (39 miles) southwest of the city in Gyazhugling, Gonggar County of Shannan. Situated at an elevation of 3,600 meters (11,800 ft), it is one of the highest airports globally. The airport was initially constructed in 1965, with the first Beijing-Chengdu-Lhasa air route becoming operational in March 1965. A second runway was added in 1994, and terminals were expanded in 2004 and 2021. The airport's runway is 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide, designed to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft in the high-altitude environment. It has parking facilities for five Airbus A340 or seven Boeing 757 aircraft. Pilots operating at Lhasa Gonggar Airport require special training for high-altitude maneuvers. Due to strong air currents often picking up in the afternoon, most flights are scheduled for the morning. A night landing facility, including navigational lighting, was commissioned in 2007 to enhance operational capacity. In 2017, the airport demonstrated the ability to accommodate an Airbus A330 overnight, following technical solutions for engine re-ignition in low air pressure.